noun
- salts or compounds derived from silicic acid, containing silicon and oxygen atoms, often found in rocks and minerals
Usage: chemistry; geology
Examples
- Most rocks in the Earth’s crust are composed of silicates.
- Quartz and feldspar are common silicate minerals.
- The laboratory analyzed the soil sample for various silicates.
- Silicates form the backbone of many ceramic materials.
- Clay minerals are examples of layered silicates.
- The volcanic rock contained numerous silicate crystals.