rhyolite

noun

rhy·​o·​lite ˈrī-ə-ˌlīt How to pronounce rhyolite (audio)
: a very acid volcanic rock that is the lava form of granite
rhyolitic
ˌrī-ə-ˈli-tik How to pronounce rhyolite (audio)
adjective

Examples of rhyolite 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.
And another outcrop in the valley below, Craig Rhos-y-felin, supplied most of the rhyolite. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024 The mixture slowly cooled and fused into a tuff of rhyolite. — Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German Rhyolith, from Greek rhyax stream, stream of lava (from rhein) + German -lith -lite

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhyolite was in 1861

Rhymes for rhyolite

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Browse Nearby Words

rhyodacite
rhyolite
rhyotaxitic texture
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Cite this Entry

“Rhyolite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhyolite. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

rhyolite

noun
rhy·​o·​lite ˈrī-ə-ˌlīt How to pronounce rhyolite (audio)
: a very acid volcanic rock that is the lava form of granite
rhyolitic
ˌrī-ə-ˈlit-ik How to pronounce rhyolite (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on rhyolite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rhyolite

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