montmorillonite

noun

mont·​mo·​ril·​lon·​ite ˌmänt-mə-ˈri-lə-ˌnīt How to pronounce montmorillonite (audio) -ˈrē-ə-ˌnīt How to pronounce montmorillonite (audio)
: a soft clayey water-absorbent mineral that is a hydrous aluminum silicate
montmorillonitic adjective

Examples of montmorillonite 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.
Layers of clay — bentonite and montmorillonite, to be specific — are found beneath the ground, interspersed between layers of bedrock. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2023 The clay used in cat litter is a natural soil component made of minerals—either calcium montmorillonite or the clumping sodium bentonite. Lorraine Wilde, Treehugger, 23 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, from Montmorillon, commune in western France

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of montmorillonite was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

“Montmorillonite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/montmorillonite. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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