apatite

From Ancient Greek [Term?] (“deceit”), since its form and colour are deceptive.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈæp.ə.taɪt/
• Homophone: appetite

apatite (countable and uncountable, plural apatites)

1. (mineralogy) A calcium fluoride phosphate of variable composition, sometimes used in the manufacture of fertilizer.
   • 1967, Duncan McConnell et al., "Infrared Absorption of Carbonate Apatite," Science, New Series, vol. 155, no. 3762, p. 608,

     We had prepared, by precipitation methods, finely divided crystalline apatites that were similar in crystal size and x-ray diffraction profile to bone apatite.

• carbapatite
• chlorapatite
• fluorapatite
• hydroxyapatite

• Not to be confused with appetite

• “Apatite” in David Barthelmy, Webmineral Mineralogy Database, 1997–.
• “apatite”, in Mindat.org‎, Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, accessed 29 August 2016.

apatite f (plural apatiti)

1. (mineralogy) apatite