types:
ballast
any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
rind
the natural outer covering of food (usually removed before eating)
precursor
a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)
ammunition
any nuclear or chemical or biological material that can be used as a weapon of mass destruction
floc,
floccule
a small loosely aggregated mass of flocculent material suspended in or precipitated from a liquid
HAZMAT
an abbreviation for `hazardous material' used on warning signs
aggregate
material such as sand or gravel used with cement and water to make concrete, mortar, or plaster
sorbate
a material that has been or is capable of being taken up by another substance by either absorption or adsorption
sorbent,
sorbent material
a material that sorbs another substance; i.e. that has the capacity or tendency to take it up by either absorption or adsorption
diamagnet
a substance that exhibits diamagnetism
mineral
solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
rock,
stone
material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust
sealing material
any substance used to seal joints or fill cracks in a porous surface
fluff
any light downy material
bimetal
material made by bonding together sheets of two different metals
composite material
strong lightweight material developed in the laboratory; fibers of more than one kind are bonded together chemically
conductor
a substance that readily conducts e.g. electricity and heat
particulate,
particulate matter
a small discrete mass of solid or liquid matter that remains individually dispersed in gas or liquid emissions (usually considered to be an atmospheric pollutant)
dust
free microscopic particles of solid material
elastomer
any of various elastic materials that resemble rubber (resumes its original shape when a deforming force is removed)
earth,
ground
the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface
detritus
loose material (stone fragments and silt etc) that is worn away from rocks
fiber,
fibre
a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
fill,
filling
any material that fills a space or container
foam
a lightweight material in cellular form; made by introducing gas bubbles during manufacture
homogenate
material that has been homogenized (especially tissue that has been ground and mixed)
humate
material that is high in humic acids
paper
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
toner
a black or colored powder used in a printer to develop a xerographic image
undercut
the material removed by a cut made underneath
wad
a small mass of soft material
feather,
plumage,
plume
the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
beard,
byssus
tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
bristle
a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
bushing
an insulating liner in an opening through which conductors pass
card
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
confetti
small pieces or streamers of colored paper that are thrown around on festive occasions (as at a wedding)
explosive
a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck
paint,
pigment
a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating
spindle
(biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle
peel,
skin
the rind of a fruit or vegetable
grain
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
grinding
material resulting from the process of grinding
moraine
accumulated earth and stones deposited by a glacier
bassine
coarse leaf fiber from palmyra palms used in making brushes and brooms
coir
stiff coarse fiber from the outer husk of a coconut
raffia
fiber of a raffia palm used as light cordage and in making hats and baskets
dross,
impurity
worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
Styrofoam
a light resilient foam of polystyrene
feedstock
the raw material that is required for some industrial process
absorbate
a material that has been or is capable of being absorbed
adsorbate
a material that has been or is capable of being adsorbed
Cu,
atomic number 29,
copper
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
Ag,
atomic number 47,
silver
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
amblygonite
a white or grey mineral consisting of lithium aluminum phosphate; a source of lithium
amphibole
a mineral or mineral variety belonging to the amphibole group
amphibole group
a group of minerals with similar crystal structures containing a silicate chain and combinations of chiefly sodium and calcium and magnesium and iron and aluminum
apatite
a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate; a source of phosphorus
aragonite
a mineral form of crystalline calcium carbonate; dimorphic with calcite
argentite
a valuable silver ore consisting of silver sulfide (Ag2S)
argyrodite
a rare steel-grey mineral consisting of silver and germanium and sulfur
asphalt,
mineral pitch
a dark bituminous substance found in natural beds and as residue from petroleum distillation; consists mainly of hydrocarbons
augite
dark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group containing large amounts of aluminum and iron and magnesium
bauxite
a clay-like mineral; the chief ore of aluminum; composed of aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides; used as an abrasive and catalyst
beryl
the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems
borax
an ore of boron consisting of hydrated sodium borate; used as a flux or cleansing agent
bornite,
peacock ore
a mineral consisting of sulfides of copper and iron that is found in copper deposits
carnallite
a white or reddish mineral consisting of hydrous chlorides of potassium and magnesium; used as a fertilizer and as a source of potassium and magnesium
cassiterite
a hard heavy dark mineral that is the chief source of tin
celestite
a mineral consisting of strontium sulphate
chlorite
a generally green or black mineral; it occurs as a constituent of many rocks typically in the form of a flat crystal
chromite
a brownish-black mineral; the major source of chromium
chrysoberyl
a rare hard yellow green mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in crystal form; used as a gemstone
cinnabar
a heavy reddish mineral consisting of mercuric sulfide; the chief source of mercury
cobaltite
a rare silvery-white mineral; important ore of cobalt
cordierite
a blue mineral of magnesium and iron and aluminum and silicon and oxygen; often used as a gemstone
cristobalite
a white mineral consisting of silica; found in volcanic rocks
crocolite
a rare lead chromite mineral that forms bright orange crystals
cuprite
a mineral consisting of cuprous oxide that is a source of copper
cutin
(biochemistry) a waxy transparent material that occurs in the cuticle of plants and consists of highly polymerized esters of fatty acids
bitter spar,
dolomite
a light colored mineral consisting of calcium magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium; used as a ceramic and as fertilizer
emery
a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)
cobalt bloom,
erythrite
a reddish mineral consisting of hydrated cobalt arsenate in monoclinic crystalline form and used in coloring glass; usually found in veins bearing cobalt and arsenic
fergusonite
a dark mineral consisting of oxides of yttrium and erbium and tantalum and other minerals
fluor,
fluorite,
fluorspar
a soft mineral (calcium fluoride) that is fluorescent in ultraviolet light; chief source of fluorine
gadolinite,
ytterbite
a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium
galena
soft blue-grey mineral; lead sulfide; a major source of lead
garnet
any of a group of hard glassy minerals (silicates of various metals) used as gemstones and as an abrasive
garnierite
a green mineral consisting of hydrated nickel magnesium silicate; a source of nickel
germanite
a rare reddish-grey mineral consisting of a copper iron germanium sulfide
gibbsite
white crystalline mineral consisting of aluminum hydroxide; a constituent of bauxite and a source of alumina
glauconite
a green mineral consisting of hydrated silicate of potassium or iron or magnesium or aluminum; found in greensand
gypsum
a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)
hausmannite
a mineral consisting of manganese tetroxide; a source of manganese
ilmenite
a weakly magnetic black mineral found in metamorphic and plutonic rocks; an iron titanium oxide in crystalline form; a source of titanium
jadeite
a hard green mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate in monoclinic crystalline form; a source of jade; found principally in Burma
kainite
a white mineral consisting of magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride; a source of potassium salts; used as a fertilizer
kaolinite
a mineral consisting of aluminum silicate; main source of kaolin
kernite
a light soft mineral consisting of hydrated sodium borate in crystalline form; an important source of boron
kieserite
a white mineral consisting of hydrous magnesium sulfate often found in salt mines
cyanite,
kyanite
a grey or greenish-blue mineral consisting of aluminum silicate in crystalline form; occurs in metaphoric rock, used as a refractory
langbeinite
a mineral consisting of potassium magnesium double sulphate; used as a fertilizer
magnesite
a white mineral consisting of magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium
malachite
a green mineral used for jewelry, ornaments, and copper ore
manganite
a black mineral consisting of basic manganese oxide; a source of manganese
isinglass,
mica
any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
millerite
a yellow mineral consisting of nickel sulfide; a minor source of nickel
molybdenite
a mineral resembling graphite that is valued as the chief source of molybdenum and its compounds
monazite
a reddish-brown mineral containing rare earth metals; an important source of thorium and cerium
nepheline,
nephelite
a whitish mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate or potassium aluminum silicate in crystalline form; used in the manufacture of ceramics and enamels
nephelinite
an igneous rock consisting of nepheline and pyroxene
olivine
a mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate; a source of magnesium
olivenite
rare green to black mineral consisting of hydrated copper arsenate that is found in copper deposits
opal
a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
ore
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
orpiment
a yellow mineral occurring in conjunction with realgar; an ore of arsenic
iridosmine,
osmiridium
a hard and corrosion resistant mineral that is a natural alloy of osmium and iridium (usually containing small amounts of rhodium and platinum); used in needles and pen nibs etc.
peat
partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
pentlandite
a mineral (iron and nickel sulphide) that is the chief ore of nickel
pinite
grey or green or brown mineral similar to mica and containing aluminum and potassium sulphates
pollucite
a rare mineral that is an important source of cesium
psilomelane
a mineral consisting of hydrated basic oxide of manganese and barium; a source of manganese
pyrolusite
a mineral consisting of manganese dioxide; an important source of manganese
pyrophyllite
a white or greenish aluminum silicate mineral (resembles talc)
pyroxene
any of a group of crystalline silicate mineral common in igneous and metamorphic rocks
quartz
a hard glossy mineral consisting of silicon dioxide in crystal form; present in most rocks (especially sandstone and granite); yellow sand is quartz with iron oxide impurities
quartzite
hard metamorphic rock consisting essentially of interlocking quartz crystals
reactant
a chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction
realgar
a rare soft orange mineral consisting of arsenic sulphide; an important ore of arsenic
red clay
clay whose redness results from iron oxide
rhodochrosite
a mineral consisting of manganese carbonate; a source of manganese
rhodonite
a pink or red mineral consisting of crystalline manganese silicate; used as an ornamental stone
road metal
broken rock used for repairing or making roads
sial
the granitelike rocks that form the outermost layer of the earth's crust; rich in silicon and aluminum
sima
rock that form the continuous lower layer of the earth's crust; rich in silicon and magnesium
caliche
nitrate-bearing rock or gravel of the sodium nitrate deposits of Chile and Peru
shingling
(geology) sediment in which flat pebbles are uniformly tilted in the same direction
birdlime,
lime
a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds
spirit gum
an adhesive solution made of gum and ether and used to attach false hair to skin
binder
something used to bind separate particles together or facilitate adhesion to a surface
cement
something that hardens to act as adhesive material
library paste,
paste
an adhesive made from water and flour or starch; used on paper and paperboard
rubber cement
an adhesive made by dissolving unvulcanized rubber in a solvent like benzene or naphtha
sealant,
sealer
a kind of sealing material that is used to form a hard coating on a porous surface (as a coat of paint or varnish used to size a surface)
filler
used for filling cracks or holes in a surface
lute,
luting
a substance for packing a joint or coating a porous surface to make it impervious to gas or liquid
Alar,
daminozide
a chemical sprayed on fruit trees to regulate their growth so the entire crop can be harvested at one time
aphanite
fine-grained homogeneous rock (such as basalt) containing minerals undetectable by the naked eye
carrier
an inactive substance that is a vehicle for a radioactive tracer of the same substance and that assists in its recovery after some chemical reaction
animal oil
any oil obtained from animal substances
dentin,
dentine
a calcareous material harder and denser than bone that comprises the bulk of a tooth
horn
the material (mostly keratin) that covers the horns of ungulates and forms hooves and claws and nails
shell
the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
art paper
a high-quality paper (usually having a filler of china clay)
carbon,
carbon paper
a thin paper coated on one side with a dark waxy substance (often containing carbon); used to transfer characters from the original to an under sheet of paper
carborundum
an abrasive composed of silicon carbide crystals
congener
a minor chemical constituent that gives a wine or liquor its distinctive character
cement
any of various materials used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth
chad
a small piece of paper that is supposed to be removed when a hole is punched in a card or paper tape
chylomicron
a microscopic particle of triglycerides produced in the intestines during digestion; in the bloodstream they release their fatty acids into the blood
claystone
fine-grained rock consisting of compacted clay particles
chemical compound,
compound
(chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
computer paper
paper folded to permit continuous printing controlled by a computer
semiconducting material,
semiconductor
a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities
glass wool
glass fibers spun and massed into bundles resembling wool
cork
outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.
crepe,
crepe paper
paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations
dolomite
a kind of sedimentary rock resembling marble or limestone but rich in magnesium carbonate
drawing paper
paper that is specially prepared for use in drafting
dust
fine powdery material such as dry earth or pollen that can be blown about in the air
saprolite
a deposit of clay and disintegrating rock that is found in its original place
dirt,
soil
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
soil conditioner
a chemical substance used to improve the structure of the soil and increase its porosity
effluvium
a foul-smelling outflow or vapor (especially a gaseous waste)
rheum
a watery discharge from the mucous membranes (especially from the eyes or nose)
vaginal discharge
discharge of secretions from the cervical glands of the vagina; normally clear or white
crud,
filth,
skank
any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant
pollutant
waste matter that contaminates the water or air or soil
slop
(usually plural) waste water from a kitchen or bathroom or chamber pot that has to be emptied by hand
flux
a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed
string
a tough piece of fiber in vegetables, meat, or other food (especially the tough fibers connecting the two halves of a bean pod)
fieldstone
stone that occurs naturally in fields; often used as building material
flyspeck
a tiny dark speck made by the excrement of a fly
flypaper
paper that is poisoned or coated with a sticky substance to kill flies
foam rubber
spongy rubber; made by introducing air bubbles before vulcanization and used for cushioning or upholstery
fumigant
a chemical substance used in fumigation
graph paper
paper that has lines to permit drawing graphs
greisen
a granitic rock composed of quartz and mica
hyalin,
hyaline
a glassy translucent substance that occurs in hyaline cartilage or in certain skin conditions
identification particle
a tiny particle of material that can be added to a product to indicate the source of manufacture
indicator
(chemistry) a substance that changes color to indicate the presence of some ion or substance; can be used to indicate the completion of a chemical reaction or (in medicine) to test for a particular reaction
intermediate
a substance formed during a chemical process before the desired product is obtained
fraction
a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process
larvicide
a chemical used to kill larval pests
calc-tufa,
tufa
a soft porous rock consisting of calcium carbonate deposited from springs rich in lime
magma
molten rock in the earth's crust
igneous rock
rock formed by the solidification of molten magma
linen,
linen paper
a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen finish
limestone
a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals
lint
fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers
litmus paper
unsized paper treated with litmus for use as an acid-base indicator
marble
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
matrix
(geology) amass of fine-grained rock in which fossils, crystals, or gems are embedded
mordant
a substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process
oakum
loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships
oilpaper
paper that has been made translucent and waterproof by soaking in oil
india paper
a thin tough opaque paper used in fine books
papyrus
paper made from the papyrus plant by cutting it in strips and pressing it flat; used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks and Romans
parchment
a superior paper resembling sheepskin
rice paper
a thin delicate material resembling paper; made from the rice-paper tree
ticker tape
a continuous thin ribbon of paper on which stock quotes are written
pesticide
a chemical used to kill pests (as rodents or insects)
phytochemical
a chemical substance obtained from plants that is biologically active but not nutritive
dye,
dyestuff
a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
hematochrome
a reddish coloring material found in some algae
pigment
dry coloring material (especially a powder to be mixed with a liquid to produce paint, etc.)
pigment
any substance whose presence in plant or animal tissues produces a characteristic color
product
a chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction
radioactive waste
useless radioactive materials that are left after some laboratory or commercial process is completed
restrainer
a chemical that is added to a photographic developer in order to retard development and reduce the amount of fog on a film
rutile
a mineral consisting of titanium dioxide in crystalline form; occurs in metamorphic and plutonic rocks and is a major source of titanium
samarskite
a complex black mineral occurring in pegmatites
sapphirine
a rare light blue or green mineral; consists of aluminum and magnesium silicate and occurs as small grains in some metamorphic rocks
scheelite
a mineral used as an ore of tungsten
smaltite
a grey mineral consisting of cobalt arsenide and nickel; an important source of cobalt and nickel
sodalite
a vitreous mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate and sodium chloride in crystalline form; occurs in igneous rocks
spar
any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
spinel
a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as gemstones
spodumene
a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminum silicate; a source of lithium
stabilizer
a chemical that is added to a solution or mixture or suspension to maintain it in a stable or unchanging state
stain
(microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible
softener
a substance added to another to make it less hard
stibnite
a soft grey mineral; the chief ore of antimony
vegetable tallow
a waxy fat obtained from certain plants (e.g. bayberry) and used as tallow
graphic tellurium,
sylvanite
a silver-white mineral consisting of silver gold telluride; a source of gold in Australia and America
sylvine,
sylvite
a mineral consisting of native potassium chloride; an important ore of potassium that is found in sedimentary beds
talc,
talcum
a fine grained mineral having a soft soapy feel and consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate; used in a variety of products including talcum powder
tantalite
a mineral consisting of tantalum oxide of iron and manganese that occurs with niobite or in coarse granite; an ore of tantalum
thorite
a radioactive mineral consisting of thorium silicate; it is a source of thorium that is found in coarse granite
thortveitite
a mineral consisting of scandium yttrium silicate; a source of scandium
topaz
a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals of various colors and is used as a gemstone
tourmaline
a mineral that is a complex borosilicate and hydroxide of aluminum containing iron and magnesium and calcium and lithium and sodium; it is usually black but occurs in transparent colored forms that are used as gemstones
tracing paper
a semitransparent paper that is used for tracing drawings
transfer paper
a paper that is coated with a preparation for transferring a design to another surface
turquoise
a blue to grayish-green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate
vanadinite
a mineral consisting of chloride and vanadate of lead; a source of vanadium
vermiculite
any of a group of yellow or brown hydrous silicate minerals having a micaceous structure
idocrase,
vesuvian,
vesuvianite
a green or yellow or brown mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate; it occurs as crystals in limestone and is used a gemstone
wallpaper
a decorative paper for the walls of rooms
wax paper
paper that has been waterproofed by treatment with wax or paraffin
wood
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
iron manganese tungsten,
wolframite
a mineral consisting of iron and manganese tungstate in crystalline form; the principal ore of tungsten; found in quartz veins associated with granitic rocks
wollastonite
a white or greyish mineral typically found in metamorphic limestone; a silicate of calcium
writing paper
paper material made into thin sheets that are sized to take ink; used for writing correspondence and manuscripts
wulfenite
a yellow to orange or brown mineral used as a molybdenum ore
wurtzite
a brownish-black mineral consisting of zinc sulfide
xenotime
a brown-to-yellow mineral that is a phosphate of yttrium in crystalline form
zeolite
any of a family of glassy minerals analogous to feldspar containing hydrated aluminum silicates of calcium or sodium or potassium; formed in cavities in lava flows and in plutonic rocks
zinkenite
a steel grey metallic mineral (a sulphide of lead and antimony)
zircon,
zirconium silicate
a common mineral occurring in small crystals; chief source of zirconium; used as a refractory when opaque and as a gem when transparent