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# pyrite

noun (pyrite — uncountable; a pyrite crystal)

«pyrite» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A shiny, pale gold-coloured mineral made of iron and sulphur, often called fool's gold because people mistook it for real gold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science lessons about rocks and minerals, pyrite shows that looks can trick you: it is harder and more brittle than gold, and it often forms cubes. In history, gold rush miners were fooled by it. Phrases: fool's gold, iron pyrite.

### Examples

- Pyrite is called fool's gold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#x1)
- The miner shouted with joy, but it was only pyrite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#x2)
- Pyrite often grows in little cubes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#x3)
- Real gold is soft, but pyrite is hard and brittle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#x4)
- Pyrite makes sparks if you strike it with steel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#x5)
- We found a shiny pyrite crystal at the rock shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable as a mineral. Also called iron pyrites. Test: rubbed on rough tile, pyrite leaves a greenish-black streak, while gold leaves a gold streak.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pyrite» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pyrite/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pyrite» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pyrite.html) on Mova free.