di·a·base (d   -b s )n. A dark-gray to black, fine-textured igneous rock composed mainly of feldspar and pyroxene and used for monuments and as crushed stone. [French, partly from Greek diabasis, a crossing over (from diabainein, to pass through or over; see diabetes) and partly from diabase (dia-, two alteration of di-, from Greek di-; see di-1 + base, basis from Old French; see base1).] |
diabase [ˈdaɪəˌbeɪs]
n
1. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science) Brit an altered dolerite
2. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science) US another name for dolerite
[from French, from Greek diabasis a crossing over, from diabainein to cross over, from dia- + bainein to go]
diabasic adj
| diabase (d-bs) A dark-gray to black, medium-grained igneous rock consisting mainly of labradorite and pyroxene. Diabase is compositionally similar to andesite, but has coarser grains. It is commonly found in sills and dikes. Also called dolerite. |
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