Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
silent treatment
Silenus
silenus
Silesia
silesia
silex
silhouette
silic-
silica
silica gel
silica glass
silicate
silici-
silicic
silicic acid
silicide
siliciferous
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "silica" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

silica

sil·i·ca [ síllikə ]


noun 
Definition:
 
naturally occurring silicon dioxide: silicon dioxide found naturally in various crystalline and amorphous forms, e.g. quartz, opal, sand, flint, and agate. Use: manufacture of glass, abrasives, concrete.

[Early 19th century. Via modern Latin< Latin silic-, stem of silex "flint"]

si·li·ceous [ sə líshəss ] adjective
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft