vermiculite

noun

ver·​mic·​u·​lite (ˌ)vər-ˈmi-kyə-ˌlīt How to pronounce vermiculite (audio)
: any of various micaceous minerals that are hydrous silicates resulting usually from expansion of the granules of mica at high temperatures to give a lightweight highly water-absorbent material

Examples of vermiculite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This mix also has vermiculite within the mixture, which can sometimes contain a natural type of asbestos. Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2023 In a new pot (preferably 2-4 inches larger in diameter), add a fresh potting mix that contains coco coir, perlite, or vermiculite for optimum drainage. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024 More than $600 million was spent to remove vermiculite from thousands of properties in Libby and surrounding communities. Matthew Brown and Amy Beth Hanson, BostonGlobe.com, 29 June 2023 Layer tubers in vermiculite. oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2021 Rather than do the painstaking finish work on a drywall ceiling — the joint tape, the multiple coats of mud skimmed to perfection — home builders would spray on a thick milkshake of gloop, then coat it in tiny balls of vermiculite or Styrofoam. John Kelly, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2023 Traditionally, perlite and vermiculite have filled this role are added to these mixes. Jeff Lowenfels | Alaska Gardening and Growing, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023 For several years, Wilson Sporting Goods lined its high-end Double Core tennis balls with a composite made from butyl rubber and vermiculite and developed by nanotech company InMat. Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 Plants that bloom from midsummer into the fall need a period of cold storage in a plastic container or bag with moistened vermiculite or sand. Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2020

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

Latin vermiculus "insect larva, grub" (from vermis "worm" + -culus, diminutive suffix) + -ite entry 1 — more at worm entry 1; so called from the worm-like forms taken by such minerals when heated by a blowpipe

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vermiculite was in 1824

Dictionary Entries Near vermiculite

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

vermiculite

noun
ver·​mic·​u·​lite (ˌ)vər-ˈmik-yə-ˌlīt How to pronounce vermiculite (audio)
: any of various minerals that result usually from the expansion of small grains of mica at high temperatures to give a lightweight highly water-absorbent material

More from Merriam-Webster on vermiculite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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