cryolite

noun

cryo·​lite ˈkrī-ə-ˌlīt How to pronounce cryolite (audio)
: a mineral consisting of a fluoride of sodium and aluminum found especially in Greenland usually in white cleavable masses and formerly used as a source of aluminum

Examples of cryolite 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.
But sodium occurs in many other minerals, including silicates like amphibole, zeolite and the fluorite mineral cryolite. — David Bressan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 The availability of synthetic cryolite (sodium aluminum fluoride) began to reduce the demand for natural cryolite toward the late 1930s. — Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Chryolit or French chryolithe, from chryo- (unetymologically for cryo- cryo-) + -lit, -lithe -lite

Note: The mineral was first described and apparently named by the Danish physician Peter Christian Abildgaard (1740-1801) in a report to Allgemeines Journal der Chemie, vol. 2 (1799), p. 502: "Zugleich theilte er auch eine Nachricht von einer vor wenigen Jahren aus Grönland nach Dänemark gebrachten besonders weissen spathartigen Miner mit. Einer damit angestellten Untersuchung zu folge bestand sie aus Thonerde und Flussspathsäure. Eine Verbindung, von welcher noch kein ähnliches Beyspiel im Mineralreich vorgekommen ist. Sie hat den Namen Chryolit erhalten, weil sie vor dem Löthrohre wie gefrorne Salzlauge schmilzt." ("At the same time he [Professor Abildgaard] has communicated a report about a particularly white spar-like ore brought to Denmark from Greenland several years ago. The result of an investigation undertaken for the purpose is that it consists of alumina and hydrofluoric acid. A combination for which a like example has not yet been found in the mineral kingdom. It has received the name cryolite because on exposure to the blowpipe it melts into a sort of frozen brine.")

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cryolite was in 1800

Rhymes for cryolite

See All Rhymes for cryolite

Browse Nearby Words

cryolite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cryolite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryolite. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

cryolite

noun
cryo·​lite ˈkrī-ə-ˌlīt How to pronounce cryolite (audio)
: a mineral consisting of sodium, aluminum, and fluorine that is used especially in making aluminum

More from Merriam-Webster on cryolite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cryolite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All