— montmorillonitic /mont'meuh ril'euh nit"ik/ , adj.
/mont'meuh ril"euh nuyt'/ , n.
any of a group of clay minerals characterized by the ability to expand when they absorb large quantities of water. Also called smectite .
[ 1850-55; named after Montmorillon, France, where it was found; see -ITE 1 ]