Synonyms for basalt

Grammar : Noun

Spell : buh-sawlt, bas-awlt, bey-sawlt

Phonetic Transcription : bəˈsɔlt, ˈbæs ɔlt, ˈbeɪ sɔlt

Définition of basalt

Origin : c.1600, from Late Latin basaltes, misspelling of Latin basanites "very hard stone," from Greek basanites "a species of slate used to test gold," from basanos "touchstone." Not connected with salt. Said by Pliny ["Historia," 36.58] to be an African word, perhaps Egyptian bauhan "slate." Any hard, very dark rock would do as a touchstone; the assayer compared the streak left by the alleged gold with that of real gold or baser metals. Hence Greek basanizein "to be put to the test, examined closely, cross-examined, to be put to torture."

As in lava : noun volcano matter

Example sentences :

Many varieties of stone were used, but the preference was given to basalt.
Extract from : « The Railroad Question » by William Larrabee

Behold, my flesh is solid as basalt, my bones are bars of steel!
Extract from : « The Mummy's Foot » by Thophile Gautier

The statues of basalt rolled their eyes and smiled hideously.
Extract from : « King Candaules » by Thophile Gautier

A good solid rock, like basalt, can be cut into slices of about 3/32 inch thick.
Extract from : « On Laboratory Arts » by Richard Threlfall

Of what use would porphyry, or granite, or basalt be for such purposes?
Extract from : « Pagan and Christian Rome » by Rodolfo Lanciani

They had also said something about pot holes like shafts in the basalt.
Extract from : « The Beach of Dreams » by H. De Vere Stacpoole

Tiresias came next, in a basalt chariot, yoked to royal steeds.
Extract from : « The Infernal Marriage » by Benjamin Disraeli

Its form was that of a cube, 12 feet on each side, and it stood on a block of basalt.
Extract from : « In Search of the Castaways » by Jules Verne

There was finality miles deep and fixed as basalt in his tone.
Extract from : « The Escape of Mr. Trimm » by Irvin S. Cobb

There are some, however, of smaller dimensions made of sandstone and basalt.
Extract from : « Museum of Antiquity » by L. W. Yaggy

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019