mineral

1 of 2

noun

min·​er·​al
ˈmin-rəl,
ˈmi-nə- How to pronounce mineral (audio)
1
: ore
2
: an inorganic substance (as in the ash of calcined tissue)
3
obsolete : mine
4
: something neither animal nor vegetable
5
a
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature
broadly : any of various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (such as stone, coal, salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the ground
b
: a synthetic substance having the chemical composition and crystalline form and properties of a naturally occurring mineral
6
minerals plural, British : mineral water

mineral

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to minerals
also : inorganic
2
: impregnated with mineral substances

Examples of mineral in a Sentence

Noun an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The making of EVs and their batteries also requires large amounts of minerals. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 It's both mechanically harvested and harvested by hand and is known for being a good source of antioxidants and vitamins and minerals such as folate, manganese, phosphorous, iron, vitamin B1 and magnesium. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 The latter three minerals are essential to produce electronics. Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 How much of that supplement popping is necessary, or even a good idea, is debated, but most of us take some kind of vitamin or mineral supplement at least occasionally, and that’s mostly harmless. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 When collard greens are cooked in liquid, a lot of the water-soluble vitamins and minerals are lost to that liquid, which is called pot likker. Adrienne Cheatham, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Similarly, sunflower seeds are rich in selenium, a mineral that helps preserve skin elasticity and prevent premature aging. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Flavors of blackberries and sage mingle with smoky mineral notes. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 If constructed, the 211-mile Ambler Road–which would provide international mining companies access to undeveloped mineral deposits in the central Brooks Range–would be approximately four times the length of the 52-mile Red Dog Mine Road. Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 22 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Don’t expect exotic fruit flavors here, beyond a lovely hint of pear and apricot; the main impression is mineral — as if the wine were bearing a message from the Earth itself. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024 Circular economy interventions like increasing metal recovery and reusing mineral and non-mineral waste may also support emission reductions across the mining value chains. Carla Delgado, Popular Science, 28 June 2023 The moody aroma is reminiscent of cliffside vegetation, transporting the wearer to the stormy seashore through mineral top notes and metallic base accords. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 2 Jan. 2024 Top 5 Can’t Miss Nayara Springs: Soak in your villa’s private plunge pool fed by mineral hot springs. Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2023 Although severing the land link between Russia is an important aim, so is liberating the large swaths of land containing agricultural and mineral wealth that provide significant revenue for the Ukrainian government. Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 30 Aug. 2023 For mineral buildup or tough stains, create a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2023 Large credit for that goes to the forthright, proudly regional cooking of the chef and co-owner Alexandra Gates, who last spring served a filet of free-range bison, rich in mineral flavor, that justified my daylong drive. The New York Times, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2023 But what many miss out on is the Big Bend Hot Spring, full of mineral salts to help soothe tired muscles and heal ailments. Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mineral.' 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

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin minerale, from neuter of mineralis

Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin mineralis, from minera mine, ore, from Old French minere, miniere, from mine

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mineral was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mineral

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

mineral

1 of 2 noun
min·​er·​al ˈmin-(ə-)rəl How to pronounce mineral (audio)
1
: a solid chemical element or compound (as diamond or quartz) that occurs naturally in the form of crystals and results from inorganic processes
2
: a naturally occurring substance (as ore, petroleum, or water) obtained usually from the ground

mineral

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a mineral : inorganic
2
: containing mineral salts or gases
mineral water

Medical Definition

mineral

1 of 2 noun
min·​er·​al ˈmin(-ə)-rəl How to pronounce mineral (audio)
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature

mineral

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to minerals
also : inorganic
2
: impregnated with mineral substances

More from Merriam-Webster on mineral

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