dolerite

D2O1L1E1R1I1T1E1
UK/ˈdɒl.əˌɹaɪt/US/ˈdɑl.əˌɹaɪt/

noun

A type of fine-grained basaltic rock.

Similar
diabase
OriginFrench dolérite ← Ancient Greek δολερός →
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Meanings

noundolerite (countable and uncountable, plural dolerites)

plural dolerites

  1. countableuncountablegeographyA type of fine-grained basaltic rock.

    Synonyms: diabase

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA type of fine-grained basaltic rock.

Similar
diabase
Also see
diabase

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekδολερός“deceitful, deceptive”
  2. Frenchdolérite
  3. Englishdolerite

From French dolérite, from Ancient Greek δολερός (dolerós, “deceitful, deceptive”), because it was easily confounded with diorite, + -ite.

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish doleriitti
  • doleriittirock
French dolérite, diorte
  • dolériterock
  • diorterock
  • diabaserock
Icelandic grágrýti
  • grágrýtirock
Polish doleryt, diabaz
  • dolerytrock
  • diabazrock

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

eleotrid
Cite this entry
APA

dolerite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dolerite

MLA

“dolerite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dolerite. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dolerite,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dolerite.

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