amphibole

A1M3P3H4I1B3O1L1E1
/ˈæm.fɪˌboʊl/

noun

Any of a large group of structurally similar hydrated double silicate minerals, containing various combinations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminium.

OriginFrench amphibole ← Ancient Greek ἀμφίβολος →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounamphibole (plural amphiboles)

plural amphiboles

  1. chemistryAny of a large group of structurally similar hydrated double silicate minerals, containing various combinations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminium.

    Remember when we could see the mountain's peak? The sparkle off the amphibole.

    2017, Jason Isbell, Cumberland Gap

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀμφίβολος“ambiguous”
  2. Frenchamphibole
  3. Englishamphibole

From French amphibole, coined by René Just Haüy from Ancient Greek ἀμφίβολος (amphíbolos, “ambiguous”), in reference to its many forms.

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan amfíbol
  • amfíbolAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Chinese Cantonese 閃石 /闪石
  • 閃石 /闪石Any of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Chinese Mandarin 閃石 /闪石, 角閃石 /角闪石
  • 閃石 /闪石 (shǎnshí)Any of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
  • 角閃石 /角闪石 (jiǎoshǎnshí)Any of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Finnish amfiboli
  • amfiboliAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
French amphibole
  • amphiboleAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
German Amphibol
  • AmphibolAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Italian anfibolo
  • anfiboloAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Japanese 角閃石
  • 角閃石 (kakusenseki)Any of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Polish amfibol
  • amfibolAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Portuguese anfíbola, anfíbolo
  • anfíbolaAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
  • anfíboloAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
  • anfíboleAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Russian амфибо́л
  • амфибо́л (amfiból)Any of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Spanish anfíbol
  • anfíbolAny of a large group of similar hydrated double silicate minerals
Cite this entry
APA

amphibole. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphibole

MLA

“amphibole.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphibole. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “amphibole,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphibole.

Source: amphibole on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.