microphenocryst

M3I1C3R1O1P3H4E1N1O1C3R1Y4S1T1

noun

A very small crystal in a fine-grained porphyritic rock.

OriginEnglish phenocryst ← Ancient Greek μῑκρο- (mīkro-) ← Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? →
Scrabble 29
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Meanings

nounmicrophenocryst (plural microphenocrysts)

plural microphenocrysts

  1. geographyA very small crystal in a fine-grained porphyritic rock.

    The basalt of Goose Island of the Ice Harbor Member is unique for the occurrence of microphenocrysts of ilmenite and titanmagnetite.

    1983, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, page 9

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*mey-der.?
  2. Ancient Greekμῑκρός (mīkrós)
  3. Ancient Greekμῑκρο- (mīkro-)
  4. Englishmicro-
  5. Englishphenocryst
  6. Englishmicrophenocryst

From micro- + phenocryst.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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