bəˈsȯlt, ˈbāˌsȯlt, ˈbaˌsȯlt also ˈbāˌzȯlt sometimes ˈbasəlt or ˈbazəlt noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of earlier basaltes, from Latin, MS variant of basanites touchstone, from Greek basanitēs, from basanos touchstone (from Egyptian bhḫnw ) + -itēs -ite
1. : a dark-gray to black dense to fine-grained igneous rock that is the extrusive equivalent of gabbro, that consists of basic plagioclase, augite, and usually magnetite with olivine or basalt glass or both sometimes present, that is often vesicular the cavities sometimes being filled with secondary minerals, and that sometimes has a prismatic parting (as in the basalts of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland) and occasionally a pillow or ellipsoidal structure
2. usually ba·sal·tes bəˈsȯl(ˌ)tēz : a hard fine-grained black stoneware introduced by Josiah Wedgwood in 1768