caliche

noun
ca·​li·​che | \ kə-ˈlē-chē How to pronounce caliche (audio) \

Definition of caliche

1 : the nitrate-bearing gravel or rock of the sodium nitrate deposits of Chile and Peru
2 : a crust of calcium carbonate that forms on the stony soil of arid regions

Examples of caliche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His home is about 20 miles from downtown Odessa, on an unmarked caliche road off of the Kermit Highway, amid nodding pump jacks and property covered with sage, mesquite and huisache trees. John Maccormack, ExpressNews.com, "Odessa gunman lived in a dirt-floor shack and once confronted neighbor while carrying a rifle," 2 Sep. 2019 Located across the street from partner The Venetian Resort, approximately 110,000 cubic yards of dirt and caliche are being moved to make way for what will be one of the most state-of-the-art live entertainment and sports complexes in the world. Melinda Sheckells, Billboard, "Las Vegas' MSG Sphere at The Venetian Will Be An 'Architectural Marvel': Photos," 24 July 2019 In Presidio, Randy Kennedy’s debut novel, the landscape of the Panhandle, West Texas, and the Mexican border, with its caliche and shin oaks and pumpjacks and ocotillo, brushes alongside the plot like an intricate central character. Eve Macsweeney, Vogue, "In Randy Kennedy’s Presidio, a Startling Road Trip Thriller Full of Twists and Turns," 17 Aug. 2018 Plant bare-root roses and trees, breaking up caliche if trees will be taprooted. idahostatesman, "A gardening to do list for March and April | Idaho Statesman," 21 Mar. 2018 There was little reason to pave our driveway, because white caliche rock tracks like glue and deposits all over the ground during wet weather. Neil Sperry, star-telegram, "Mother Nature isn’t a fan of straight lines, and we shouldn’t be either," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caliche.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of caliche

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for caliche

American Spanish, from Spanish, flake of lime, from cal lime, from Latin calx — more at chalk

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