/puy'reuh fil"uyt, puy rof"euh luyt'/ , n.
Mineral. a phyllosilicate, AlSi 2 O 5 (OH), usually having a white or greenish color, and occurring in either foliated or compact masses, the latter variety being used like soapstone.
[ 1820-30; Pyrophyllit; so called because it exfoliates when heated. See PYRO-, -PHYLL, -ITE 1 ]