basalt

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbasɔːlt, -(ə)lt/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a dark fine-grained volcanic rock that sometimes displays a columnar structure, typically composed largely of plagioclase with pyroxene and olivine.
  • a kind of black stoneware developed by Josiah Wedgwood.

Derivatives

basaltic

Pronunciation: /bəˈsɔːltɪk/
adjective

Origin:

early 17th century (in the Latin form): from Latin basaltes (variant of basanites), from Greek basanitēs, from basanos 'touchstone'