bauxite

noun

baux·​ite ˈbȯk-ˌsīt How to pronounce bauxite (audio)
ˈbäk-
: an impure mixture of earthy hydrous aluminum oxides and hydroxides that is the principal source of aluminum
bauxitic adjective

Examples of bauxite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Unregulated mining for coal and bauxite displaces entire rural communities, making their people ecological refugees. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Aluminum is made from bauxite, the most common element in the Earth’s crust, with four to five metric tons of ore per ton of end metal. Michael Barnard, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The country’s dominance is no accident: Gallium is easily obtained as a by-product of refining bauxite into aluminum, and in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Chinese government mandated that aluminum refineries also extract gallium. IEEE Spectrum, 10 Oct. 2023 The extraction and processing of materials used in EV manufacture, such as lithium, manganese and bauxite, are rapidly expanding, posing a test for company policies that tout respect for human rights and the environment. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 24 July 2023 Mining has long been a nuisance in the Boké region, which is rich in bauxite, the mineral ore that makes aluminum. Lisa Song, ProPublica, 15 June 2023 One planned in the county will lead to downtown Benton, with its historic courthouse, a museum that is said to be the world's only building made out of bauxite, and a collection of restaurants, shops and boutiques. Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 31 July 2023 Participants ate salad using biodegradable cutlery and drank seltzer from cans that could have been smelted from Guinean bauxite. Lisa Song, ProPublica, 15 June 2023 United States Geological Survey (USGS) data on global mineral reserves shows Africa hosts cobalt (52.4%), manganese (46%), bauxite for aluminium production (24.7%), graphite (21.2%), and vanadium (16%). By Conrad Onyango, Quartz, 1 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bauxite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French bauxite, from Les Baux, near Arles, France

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bauxite was in 1861

Dictionary Entries Near bauxite

Cite this Entry

“Bauxite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bauxite. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bauxite

noun
baux·​ite ˈbȯk-ˌsīt How to pronounce bauxite (audio)
ˈbäk-
: a clayey substance that is the principal ore of aluminum

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