phosphate rock

noun

: a rock that consists largely of calcium phosphate usually together with other minerals (such as calcium carbonate), is used in making fertilizers, and is a source of phosphorus compounds

Examples of phosphate rock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Phosphorus, derived from phosphate rock, is a fertilizer that fuels agriculture the world over, while copper finds its way into any number of electronics due to its conductivity. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2023 Remarkably, phosphate rock accounts for around 50 percent of the world’s soil productivity. WIRED, 20 Jan. 2023 Better recycling programs might also help ween the world off phosphate rock. WIRED, 20 Jan. 2023 Fertilizers are made from phosphate rock that contains naturally occurring uranium and thorium, which decay to radium, and radium decays to the radioactive gas radon, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Curt Anderson, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Sep. 2022 The facility is making fertilizer out of phosphate rock. Li Cohen, CBS News, 7 Dec. 2021 When a factory is being demolished, a body encased in phosphate rock is discovered seated at a table with ten objects spread out on it. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 9 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phosphate rock was in 1869

Dictionary Entries Near phosphate rock

Cite this Entry

“Phosphate rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphate%20rock. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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