1 concretion | Definition of concretion

concretion

noun
con·​cre·​tion | \ kän-ˈkrē-shən How to pronounce concretion (audio) , kən-\

Definition of concretion

1 : something concreted: such as
a : a hard usually inorganic mass (such as a bezoar or tophus) formed in a living body
b : a mass of mineral matter found generally in rock of a composition different from its own and produced by deposition from aqueous solution in the rock
2 : the act or process of concreting : the state of being concreted concretion of ideas in a hypothesis

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Other Words from concretion

concretionary \ kän-​ˈkrē-​shə-​ˌner-​ē How to pronounce concretionary (audio) , kən-​ \ adjective

Examples of concretion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These small, mineral hematite-rich concretions are near Fram Crater, visited by NASA's Opportunity rover in April 2004. Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Life may have existed on warm, rainy, ancient Mars before winter came," 20 Aug. 2019 These small, mineral hematite-rich concretions are near Fram Crater, visited by NASA's Opportunity rover in April 2004. Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Life may have existed on warm, rainy, ancient Mars before winter came," 20 Aug. 2019 These small, mineral hematite-rich concretions are near Fram Crater, visited by NASA's Opportunity rover in April 2004. Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Curiosity rover detects highest levels of methane on Mars," 24 June 2019 The bone fragment that was found at the site of the Whydah shipwreck was removed from a large concretion in February. Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Human remains recovered in old shipwreck off Cape Cod do not belong to legendary pirate captain," 24 May 2018 Over 200 concretions have been located at the wreck site. James Rogers, Fox News, "Pirate mystery solved: Human bone reveals its secrets," 25 May 2018 The concretion holding the remains is currently on display at the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth. Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Human remains recovered in old shipwreck off Cape Cod do not belong to legendary pirate captain," 24 May 2018 But gemologists traffic in precious pearls, and discard the rest with a pejorative classification: calcium-carbonate concretions. Michael Lapointe, The Atlantic, "The Twisted Tale of the World’s Largest Pearl," 11 May 2018 As calcite is a somewhat soluble mineral, the concretions weather away, leaving the holes. Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, "Sunday Bulletin Board: A goose in the air, mingling with the scent of skunk: It happens every spring!," 5 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'concretion.' 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 concretion

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for concretion

borrowed from Latin concrētiōn-, concrētiō "formation into something solid," from concrē-, stem of concrēscere "to coalesce, condense, solidify, harden" + -tiōn-,-tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at concrescence

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More Definitions for concretion

concretion

noun
con·​cre·​tion | \ kän-ˈkrē-shən, kən- How to pronounce concretion (audio) \

Medical Definition of concretion

: a hard usually inorganic mass (as a tophus) formed especially from mineral salts in a living body

More from Merriam-Webster on concretion

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with concretion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about concretion