What does "mineral" mean?
Any naturally occurring material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; especially, an inorganic one.
Mineral
/ˈmɪn.ɚ.əl/ adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any naturally occurring material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; especially, an inorganic one.
- Grammar: mineral is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adamant, alabaster, alabastrine, aludra.
- Useful contrasts: nonmineral teaching, vegetal, alyssum.
- Usage evidence: The region is relatively rich in mineral resources.
How to use "mineral"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mineral" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mineral" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mineral" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mineral" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mineral" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adamant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mineral", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any naturally occurring material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; especially, an inorganic one.
"The physiology of matter in the abstract is dynamical, that of mineral species is both dynamical and chemical, while that of organized forms is at once dynamical, chemical, and biotical."
- 2 solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition wordnet
- 3 Any inorganic material (as distinguished from animal or vegetable).
- 4 Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition.
- 5 Mineral water. British
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A soft drink, particularly a single serve bottle or can. Ireland, Nigeria, South-Africa, informal
- 7 A mine or mineral deposit. obsolete
"O'er whom his very madness, like some ore / Among a mineral of metals base, / Shows itself pure;"
- 8 A poisonous or dangerous substance. obsolete
"...Thou hast... / Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals[…]"
Adjective
- 1 of, related to, or containing minerals not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 composed of matter other than plant or animal wordnet
- 2 relating to minerals wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A census-designated place in Tehama County, California, United States.
Example
"The region is relatively rich in mineral resources."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mineral"?
Common synonyms include: adamant, alabaster, alabastrine, aludra, amphibole, antimony.
How do you use "mineral" in a sentence?
The region is relatively rich in mineral resources.
How do you pronounce "mineral"?
Pronounced /ˈmɪn.ɚ.əl/.
Etymology
From Middle English mineral, borrowed from Old French mineral, (French minéral), from Medieval Latin minerale, from minera (“ore”), probably ultimately derived from Latin mina (“ore, mine”).