ˈapəˌtīt noun
( -s )
Etymology: German apatit, from Greek apatē deceit (perhaps from apo- + patos path) + German -it -ite; from its being taken for other minerals — more at find
: any of a group of calcium phosphate minerals containing other elements or radicals (as fluorine, chlorine, hydroxyl, or carbonate), having the approximate general formula Ca 5 (F,Cl,OH, 1/2CO 3 )(PO 4 ) 3 , and occurring variously as hexagonal crystals, as granular masses, or in fine-grained often impure masses as the chief constituent of phosphate rock and of most or all bones and teeth ; specifically : fluorapatite — see carbonate-apatite , chlorapatite , hydroxylapatite