fulgurite

noun

ful·gu·rite ˈfu̇l-g(y)ə-ˌrīt

ˈfu̇l-jə-,

ˈfəl-

: an often tubular vitrified crust produced by the fusion of sand or rock by lightning

Examples of fulgurite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The photo does not show a fulgurite. —

Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022 That means the lightning strikes initiate a geological stopwatch the moment a fulgurite is created. —

Nikk Ogasa, Science | AAAS, 16 Dec. 2020 If the soil composition is right, something called a fulgurite can also be created — fused soil that looks like coral. —

Joaquin Palomino, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Fulgurit, from Latin fulgur "flash of lightning, lightning" + German -it -ite entry 1 — more at fulgurous

Note: The term was introduced by the German mineralogist Karl Gustav Fiedler (1791-1853) in "Ueber die Blitzröhre und ihre Entstehung," Annalen der Physik, 55. Band (Neue Folge 25. Band), Jahrgang 1817, 2. Stück, pp. 136, 153.

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of fulgurite was in 1823

See more words from the same year