-ite

1. <suffix> A suffix denoting one of a party, a sympathizer with or adherent of, and the like, and frequently used in ridicule; as, a Millerite; a Benthamite.

2. <geology> A suffix used in naming minerals; as, chlorite, from its characteristic green colour; barite, from its heaviness; graphite, from its use in writing.

3. <chemistry> A suffix used to denote the salts formed from those acids whose names end in -ous; as, sulphite, from sulphurous; nitrite, from nitrous acid, etc.

(29 Oct 1998)


Terms mentioned in text: suffix, suffix, adherent, millerite, geology, suffix, minerals, chlorite, characteristic, green, colour, barite, graphite, use, writing, chemistry, suffix, salts, formed, names, end, -ous, sulphite, sulphurous, nitrite, nitrous acid
Previous terms: italian method, italian operation, italian rhinoplasty, ita palm, itch, iter, iteral, iter a tertio ad quartum ventriculum, iteration