Nephelite

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nepheline \Neph"e*line\ (n[e^]f"[-e]*l[i^]n), Nephelite
  \Neph"e*lite\ (n[e^]f"[-e]*l[imac]t), n. [Gr. nefe`lh cloud: cf.
     F. n['e]ph['e]line. Cf. {Nebula}.] (Min.)
     A mineral occuring at Vesuvius, in glassy hexagonal crystals;
     also elsewhere, in grayish or greenish masses having a greasy
     luster, as the variety elaeolite. It is a silicate of


     aluminia, soda, and potash.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nephelite
       n : a whitish mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate or
           potassium aluminum silicate in crystalline form; used in
           the manufacture of ceramics and enamels [syn: {nepheline}]