smectite

S1M3E1C3T1I1T1E1

noun

Any of many clay phyllosilicate minerals that have a relatively open structure.

OriginAncient Greek σμήχω →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounsmectite (countable and uncountable, plural smectites)

plural smectites

  1. countableuncountablechemistryAny of many clay phyllosilicate minerals that have a relatively open structure.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekσμήχω“to rub off”
  2. Englishsmectite

From Ancient Greek σμήχω (smḗkhō, “to rub off”) + -ite.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish smektiitti
  • smektiitticlay mineral
French smectite
  • smectiteclay mineral
German Smektit, Smectit
  • Smektitclay mineral
  • Smectitclay mineral
Italian smectite
  • smectiteclay mineral
Spanish esmectita
  • esmectitaclay mineral
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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