Laterite

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈlatəɹʌɪt/

Origin

From Latin later ("brick") + -ite.

Full definition of laterite

Noun

1. A red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil formed in the tropics that has been leached of soluble minerals leaving insoluble iron and aluminium oxides and hydroxides; used to make bricks and roads.
• 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 38:Constant tropical rain makes a mush of hard old lavas. The end product is a brick red soil called laterite.

Synonyms

• murram

Anagrams

• literate