microcline

mi·cro·cline

 (mī′krō-klīn′)

n.

A whitish gray, pink or green triclinic mineral of the potassium feldspar group that forms from relatively low-temperature magmas.

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[German Mikroklin : mikro-, micro- (from the fact that its cleavage angle is not exactly equal to 90°) + Greek klīnein, to lean; see cline.]

microcline

(ˈmaɪkrəʊˌklaɪn)

n

(Minerals) a white, creamy yellow, red, or green mineral of the feldspar group, found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks: used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. Composition: potassium aluminium silicate. Formula: KAlSi3O8. Crystal structure: triclinic

[C19: from German Mikroklin, from mikro- micro- + Greek klinein to lean; so called because its cleavage plane is slightly different from 90°]

mi•cro•cline

(ˈmaɪ krəˌklaɪn)

n.

a mineral of the feldspar group, potassium aluminum silicate, KAlSi₃O₈, chemically identical with orthoclase but differing in internal structure: used in making porcelain.

[1840–50; micro- + -cline < Greek klinein to lean¹, referring to the angles between its cleavage planes, which differ slightly from 90°]

mi·cro·cline

(mī′krō-klīn′)

A type of feldspar consisting of potassium aluminum silicate. Microcline is white, pink, red-brown, or green.