n.
Pronunciation: ' gra-n ə t
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian granito, from past participle of granire to granulate, from grano grain, from Latin granum
Date: 1646
1 : a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for building and for monuments
2 : unyielding firmness or endurance <the cold granite of Puritan formalism ― V. L. Parrington>
– gran · ite · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective
– gra · nit · ic \ gra- ' ni-tik \ adjective
– gran · it · oid \ ' gra-n ə - ˌ to ̇ id \ adjective