Adjacent Words

Mica definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MI'CA, n. [L. mica, a grain or particle; mico, to shine.] A mineral of a foliated structure, consisting of thin flexible lamels or scales, having a shining surface. The scales are sometimes parallel, sometimes interwoven, sometimes wavy or undulated, sometimes representing filaments. It is called also talck, glimmer, muscovy-glass, and glist.
Jameson subdivides mica into ten subspecies, viz. mica, pinite, lepidolite,chlorite, green earth, talck, nacrite, potstone, steatite and figure stone.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity [syn: mica, isinglass]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, grain, crumb; perhaps akin to Greek mikros small Date: 1777 any of various colored or transparent mineral silicates crystallizing in monoclinic forms that readily separate into very thin leaves • micaceous adjective

Britannica Concise

Any of a group of hydrous potassium, aluminum silicate minerals that exhibit a two-dimensional sheet, or layer, structure. A very abundant variety of mica is muscovite; two other common varieties are biotite and phlogopite. Micas have various industrial uses. The varieties that contain little iron are used as thermal or electrical insulators in appliances and in such electrical devices as capacitors. In ground form, micas are used in the manufacture of wallpaper, roofing paper, and paint. Ground micas also serve as lubricants, absorbents, and packing material.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. any of a group of silicate minerals with a layered structure, esp. muscovite. Phrases and idioms: mica-schist (or slate) a fissile rock containing quartz and mica. Derivatives: micaceous adj. Etymology: L, = crumb

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mica Mi"ca, n. [L. mica crumb, grain, particle; cf. F. mica.] (Min.) The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and glimmer. Note: The important species of the mica group are: muscovite, common or potash mica, pale brown or green, often silvery, including damourite (also called hydromica); biotite, iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black; lepidomelane, iron, mica, black; phlogopite, magnesia mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite, lithia mica, rose-red, lilac. Mica (usually muscovite, also biotite) is an essential constituent of granite, gneiss, and mica slate; biotite is common in many eruptive rocks; phlogopite in crystalline limestone and serpentine. Mica diorite (Min.), an eruptive rock allied to diorite but containing mica (biotite) instead of hornblende. Mica powder, a kind of dynamite containing fine scales of mica. Mica schist, Mica slate (Geol.), a schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some feldspar.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(micas) Mica is a hard mineral which is found as small flat crystals in rocks. It has a great resistance to heat and electricity. N-MASS

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mi'-ka (mikha'): A variant of the name Micah, and probably like it a contracted form of MICAIAH (which see). In the King James Version it is sometimes spelled "Micha."

(1) A son of Merib-baal or Mephibosheth (2Sa 9:12, the King James Version "Micha"). In 1Ch 8:34, he is called "Micah."

(2) The son of Zichri (1Ch 9:15). In Ne 11:17 (the King James Version "Micha"), he is designated "the son of Zabdi," and in Ne 12:35, his name appears as "Micaiah (the King James Version "Michaiah"), the son of Zaccur."

(3) One of the signatories of the Covenant (Ne 10:11, the King James Version "Micha").

John A. Less