mineral
noun
min·er·al
| \ ˈmin-rəl, ˈmi-nə-
\
\
Definition of mineral
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: ore
2
: an inorganic substance (as in the ash of calcined tissue)
4
: something neither animal nor vegetable
5a
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature
broadly
: any of various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (such as stone, coal, salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the ground
b
: a synthetic substance having the chemical composition and crystalline form and properties of a naturally occurring mineral
mineral
adjectiveDefinition of mineral (Entry 2 of 2)
Examples of mineral in a Sentence
Noun
an adequate supply of vitamins and mineralsRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
And its true power comes from the sea: Fucus Serratus, a strain of seaweed harvested off the coast of Ireland, lends antioxidants and minerals that improve elasticity and detoxify the skin. — Chloe Metzger And Taylore Glynn, Marie Claire, "The Best Face Oil for Every Single Skin Type," 29 Aug. 2019 Travelers instead may use reef-safe sunscreens made with minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (here’s a list of hundreds of coral-safe sunscreens to try). — Los Angeles Times, "U.S. Virgin Islands’ ban on harmful sunscreens to go into effect Jan. 1," 28 Aug. 2019 Indigenous leaders who favor sustainable development and preservation of communal traditions find themselves at odds with tribal members lured by cash payouts from outsiders eager to cut their trees or dig up their minerals. — Felipe Fittipaldi, National Geographic, "Inside the faltering fight against illegal Amazon logging," 28 Aug. 2019 Burial of organic material causes a net increase in atmospheric oxygen, and reactions with minerals in rocks cause a net decrease. — The Conversation, oregonlive.com, "Amazon fires are alarming -- but, no, they won’t deplete Earth’s oxygen: The Conversation," 26 Aug. 2019 But Mr Trump’s interest may have as much to do with minerals as with geopolitics. — The Economist, "A polarising president: Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland," 16 Aug. 2019 Egg water is rich with growth-stimulating minerals. — Heloise, Washington Post, "Hints From Heloise: It came from beneath the feet," 12 July 2019 There, thanks to geology, the gas reacted with minerals to become stone. — Akshat Rathi, Quartz, "A tiny tweak in California law is creating a strange thing: carbon-negative oil," 1 July 2019 Coola Mineral Body Organic Sunscreen, for example, is made with minerals that hydrate skin while protecting it from the sun. — Diana Nguyen, Harper's BAZAAR, "A Dermatologist’s Summer Skincare Plan," 7 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Decades ago, the sunscreens that Americans were dabbing on their noses were often mineral concoctions, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, that sat on the skin in a thick white cream and physically blocked the sun’s rays. — Kim Tingley, New York Times, "When You Wear Sunscreen, You’re Taking Part in a Safety Study," 23 July 2019 Matt Samelson, an attorney with Western Environmental Law Partners, said Adams County’s proposed setback shouldn’t come as a shock to many of the energy companies that operate in the congested and mineral-rich north suburban corridor. — John Aguilar, The Denver Post, "First attempt to tighten Colorado’s oil and gas setbacks could come from Adams County," 4 Aug. 2019 Local officials have been outbid for land and struggled to sort out old claims to mineral rights on construction sites. — Jason Pohl, ProPublica, "Deadly Delays in Jail Construction Cost Lives and Dollars Across California," 20 July 2019 Chemical sunscreen should be applied about 15 minutes before sun exposure, while mineral sunscreen works immediately. — Patia Braithwaite, SELF, "You're Probably Forgetting to Put Sunscreen on These 8 Places," 18 July 2019 The state divvies up mineral taxes among counties, but the year's budget mandated that Louisville's portion — $350,000 — be allocated exclusively to the Waterfront Botanical Gardens. — Laurel Deppen, The Courier-Journal, "What you need to know about Louisville's Waterfront Botanical Gardens project," 2 July 2019 Stop 2: Glenwood Springs Since 1888, the town of Glenwood Springs has held the title for the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool. — Alex Schechter, National Geographic, "Here is the ultimate hot springs road trip in Colorado," 24 June 2019 Physical sunscreens contain mineral ingredients—like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide—and sit on top of the skin to deflect and distribute damaging UVA and UVB rays away from the skin. — Susan Brickell, Health.com, "What Does SPF Stand For? We Asked Dermatologists," 21 June 2019 Broadly speaking, tequilas from the Highlands (Los Altos) often express with grassier and sometimes sweeter flavor profiles, while those from the Lowland (El Valle) can have an earthier, more mineral quality. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "12 Things Every Tequila Aficionado Needs to Know," 7 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mineral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for mineral
mineral
noun
English Language Learners Definition of mineral
: a substance (such as quartz, coal, petroleum, salt, etc.) that is naturally formed under the ground
: a chemical substance (such as iron or zinc) that occurs naturally in certain foods and that is important for good health
See the full definition for mineral in the English Language Learners Dictionary
mineral
noun
min·er·al
| \ ˈmi-nə-rəl
, ˈmin-rəl\
, ˈmin-rəl\
Kids Definition of mineral
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a naturally occurring solid substance (as diamond, gold, or quartz) that is not of plant or animal origin
2
: a naturally occurring substance (as ore, coal, salt, or petroleum) obtained from the ground usually for humans to use
mineral
adjectiveKids Definition of mineral (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: of or relating to minerals
a mineral deposit
2
: containing gases or mineral salts
mineral water
mineral
noun
min·er·al
| \ ˈmin(-ə)-rəl
\
\
Medical Definition of mineral
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature
mineral
adjective