MINERAL


Meaning of MINERAL in English

n. & adj.

--n.

1. any of the species into which inorganic substances are classified.

2 a substance obtained by mining.

3 (often in pl.) Brit. an artificial mineral water or other effervescent drink.

--adj.

1. of or containing a mineral or minerals.

2 obtained by mining.

Phrases and idioms:

mineral oil petroleum or one of its distillation products. mineral water

1. water found in nature with some dissolved salts present.

2 an artificial imitation of this, esp. soda water.

3 any effervescent non-alcoholic drink. mineral wax a fossil resin, esp. ozocerite. mineral wool a wool-like substance made from inorganic material, used for packing etc.

Etymology: ME f. OF mineral or med.L mineralis f. minera ore f. OF miniere mine

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.