a mineral consisting of magnesium oxide in the form of isometric crystals or grains: occurs in metamorphosed limestone
Derived forms
periclastic (ˌpɛrɪˈklæstɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin periclasia, from Greek peri very + klasis a breaking, referring to its perfect cleavage
periclase in American English
(ˈperɪˌkleis, -ˌkleiz)
noun
a cubic mineral, native magnesia, MgO, occurring usually in metamorphosed dolomite
Word origin
[1835–45; ‹ G Periklas ‹ NL periclasia, equiv. to peri-peri- + Gk klás(is) a breaking (cf. -clase) + -ia-ia]This word is first recorded in the period 1835–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: catch-up, hybridize, placement, serial, squeegeeperi- is a prefix meaning “about” or “around” (perimeter, periscope), “enclosing” or “surrounding” (pericardium), and “near” (perigee, perihelion), appearing in loanwords from Greek (peripeteia). On this model, peri- is used in the formation of compound words (perimorph)