used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
acidsnounUS /ˈæsədz/
plural of “acid” — any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Some limestones resist the destructive action of water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
for the reason that
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
calcitenounUS /ˈkælsaɪt/
a common mineral consisting of crystallized calcium carbonate; a major constituent of limestone
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
crumbleverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəl/
fall apart
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
destructiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/
causing destruction or much damage
From this reading Some limestones resist the destructive action of water.
dissolvedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɑːlvd/
(of solid matter) reduced to a liquid form
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
impregnatedverbUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡneɪtəd/
past form of “impregnate” — fill, as with a certain quality
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
limestonesnounUS /ˈlaɪmstoʊnz/
plural of “limestone” — a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals
From this reading Some limestones resist the destructive action of water.
limy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
engage in
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Some limestones resist the destructive action of water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
percolatingverbUS /ˈpɜːrkəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “percolate” — permeate or penetrate gradually
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
polishnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/
the property of being smooth and shiny
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
portionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The rocks that contain it crumble because the limy portions have been dissolved out.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading Some limestones resist the destructive action of water.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
silicanounUS /ˈsɪləkə/
a white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid (SiO2); various forms occur widely in the earth's crust as quartz or cristobalite or tridymite or lechatelierite
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some limestones resist the destructive action of water.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Acids must be strong to make any impression on marble.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
transformedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɔːrmd/
given a completely different form or appearance
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
at the time that
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When they are impregnated with silica they become transformed into marble, which takes a high polish like granite.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The reason that calcite is hard to find in rocks is that percolating water, charged with acids, is constantly stealing it, and carrying it away into the ocean.
