bastnaesite

noun

bast·​naes·​ite

ˈbast-nə-ˌsīt

variants or bastnäsite

ˈbast-nə-ˌsīt

plural -s

: a mineral consisting of a fluocarbonate of the cerium metals that is wax-yellow to reddish brown

Word History

Etymology

Swedish bastnäsit, from Bastnäs, Riddarhyttan district, Västmanland, Sweden + Swedish -it -ite

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!