Mohs' scale

noun

ˈmōz- How to pronounce Mohs' scale (audio) ˈmōs- How to pronounce Mohs' scale (audio)
ˈmō-səz-
: a scale of hardness for minerals that ranges from a value of 1 for talc to 10 for diamond

Word History

Etymology

Friedrich Mohs †1839 German mineralogist

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mohs' scale was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near Mohs' scale

Cite this Entry

“Mohs' scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mohs%27%20scale. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Mohs' scale

noun
ˈmōz- How to pronounce Mohs' scale (audio) ˈmōs- How to pronounce Mohs' scale (audio)
ˈmō-səz-
: a scale of hardness for minerals that ranges from a value of 1 for talc to 10 for diamond
Etymology

named after Friedrich Mohs, 1773–1839, German mineralogist who introduced the scale

Medical Definition

Mohs' scale

noun
ˈmōz- How to pronounce Mohs' scale (audio) ˈmōs- How to pronounce Mohs' scale (audio)
ˈmō-səz-
1
: a scale of hardness for minerals in which 1 represents the hardness of talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase; 7, quartz; 8, topaz; 9, corundum; and 10, diamond
2
: a revised and expanded version of the original Mohs' scale which provides finer distinctions between the harder materials and in which 1 represents the hardness of talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase; 7, vitreous pure silica; 8, quartz; 9, topaz; 10, garnet; 11, fused zirconium oxide; 12, fused alumina; 13, silicon carbide; 14, boron carbide; and 15, diamond
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