goethite

G2O1E1T1H4I1T1E1
/ˈɡœtaɪt//ˈɡoʊθaɪt/

noun

An iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust and in mineral form is an ore.

Similar
gothite
OriginGerman Goethit →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

noungoethite (countable and uncountable, plural goethites)

plural goethites

  1. countableuncountablechemistryAn iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust and in mineral form is an ore.

    Recent work has shown that the teeth of limpets approximate to an almost ideal model natural composite material where high aspect ratio mineral nanofibres of goethite reinforce a protein matrix.

    2015 February 18, Asa H. Barber, Dun Lu, Nicola M. Pugno, “Extreme strength observed in limpet teeth”, in Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna red or yellow or brown mineral; an oxide of iron that is a common constituent of rust

Similar
gothite
Broader
iron ore
Also see
allcharite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. GermanGoethit
  2. Englishgoethite

From German Goethit, named for German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; by surface analysis, Goethe + -ite.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan goethita
  • goethitaan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Estonian götiit
  • götiitan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Finnish götiitti
  • götiittian iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
French goethite
  • goethitean iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
German Goethit
  • Goethitan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Italian goethite
  • goethitean iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Portuguese goethita
  • goethitaan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Russian гёти́т
  • гёти́т (gjotít)an iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Spanish goethita, goetita
  • goethitaan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
  • goetitaan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Swedish goethit
  • goethitan iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Thai เกอไทต์
  • เกอไทต์ (gertai)an iron oxyhydroxide that is the main constituent of rust
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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