[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/silicate/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / silicate

# silicate

noun (a silicate, silicates; silicate as a substance)

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

## Everyday

1. (science) A mineral or compound made of silicon and oxygen, often with metals; most rocks, sand and clay are made of silicates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#m1)
2. A material made from such compounds, as in some glass, cement and paint. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and geography lessons on rocks, pupils learn that the Earth's crust is mostly silicate minerals such as quartz, feldspar and mica, and that glass is made from silica sand. Chemistry for older pupils names silicates as salts of silicic acid.

### Examples

- Most of the rocks in the Earth's crust are silicates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#x1)
- Quartz is a silicate mineral found in sand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#x2)
- Clay is made of tiny silicate grains. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#x3)
- The Moon's surface is covered in grey silicate dust. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#x4)
- Some glues and paints contain silicates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#x5)
- Mica is a silicate that splits into thin shiny sheets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/silicate/#x6)

### Note

Countable for kinds (silicates), uncountable for the stuff. Say «SIL-ih-kate». Related: silicon (an element, Si), silica (silicon dioxide, as in sand), silicone (a rubbery man-made material). Don't mix these up.

## On Mova

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