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phenocryst

Pronunciation: /ˈfiːnə(ʊ)krɪst, ˈfɛnə(ʊ)krɪst/

Definition of phenocryst

noun

Geology

a large or conspicuous crystal in a porphyritic rock, distinct from the groundmass.

Origin:

late 19th century: from French phénocryste, from Greek phainein 'to show' + krustallos 'crystal'

phenocryst in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of phenocryst in the US English dictionary

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