bauxite

noun

baux·​ite ˈbȯk-ˌsīt How to pronounce bauxite (audio)
ˈbäk-
: an impure mixture of earthy hydrous aluminum oxides and hydroxides that is the principal source of aluminum
bauxitic adjective

Examples of bauxite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Harris, in his articles and policy briefs, acknowledged the historical challenges facing Jamaica’s economy, including a lack of capital, a weakness in manufacturing, and an overreliance on the exports of primary products, such as bauxite and sugar. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024 In Australia, another big producer of bauxite and alumina, exports of both have been slowed because of tighter government environmental laws and tight supplies of natural gas. Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 In Vietnam, a Chinese bauxite mining project that will bring in more than 2,000 Chinese workers has raised the ire of Vietnamese workers, religious leaders, and even military and government officials. Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2010 But in the mid-1970s, Burnham took control of the country’s resources, nationalizing sugar production as well as bauxite mining. Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bauxite 

Word History

Etymology

French bauxite, from Les Baux, near Arles, France

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bauxite was in 1861

Dictionary Entries Near bauxite

Cite this Entry

“Bauxite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bauxite. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bauxite

noun
baux·​ite ˈbȯk-ˌsīt How to pronounce bauxite (audio)
ˈbäk-
: a clayey substance that is the principal ore of aluminum

More from Merriam-Webster on bauxite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!