graphite

An allotrope of carbon, consisting of planes of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal arrays with the planes stacked loosely, that is used as a dry lubricant, in "lead" pencils, and as a moderator in some nuclear reactors.

Noun

  1. An allotrope of carbon, consisting of planes of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal arrays with the planes stacked loosely, that is used as a dry lubricant, in "lead" pencils, and as a moderator in some nuclear reactors.
    • Technical terms like ferrite, perlite, graphite, and hardenite were bandied to and fro, and when Paget glibly brought out such a rare exotic as ferro-molybdenum, Benson forgot that he was a master ship-builder, […] -...
  2. Graphite-reinforced plastic, a composite plastic made with graphite fibers noted for lightweight strength and stiffness.
    • Modern tennis racquets are made of graphite, fibreglass and other man-made materials.
  3. A grey colour, resembling graphite or the marks made with a graphite pencil.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō) Proto-Indo-European *-tósder. Ancient Greek -της (-tēs)der. Ancient Greek -ῑ́της (-ī́tēs)der. Latin -ītēsbor. French -itebor. German -it German Graphitbor. English graphite Borrowed from German Graphit (A. G. Werner 1789), from Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō, “to write”).

Forms

graphites

Synonyms

plumbago black lead carbon fiber reinforced plastic carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer graphite composite CFRP CRP

Derived

aerographite electrographite Graphalloy graphene graphite bomb graphite fluoride graphitelike graphitic graphitization graphitize graphitoid nanographite nongraphite

Verb

  1. To apply graphite to.

Forms

graphites graphiting graphited

Related

diamond