mineral

mineral [min′ər əl, min′rəl]

n.

[OFr < ML minerale, neut. of mineralis, mineral < minera, ore < VL * mina,MINE²]

1. an inorganic substance occurring naturally in the earth and having a consistent and distinctive set of physical properties (e.g., a usually crystalline structure, hardness, color, etc.) and a composition that can be expressed by a chemical formula: sometimes applied to substances in the earth of organic origin, such as coal

2. ORE

3. any substance that is neither vegetable nor animal

4. any element or inorganic compound needed by plants and animals for proper growth and functioning, as iron, phosphorus, or nitrate

5. Brit.

a) [usually pl.] MINERAL WATER

b) a flavored, carbonated soft drink

adj.

of, like, consisting of, or containing a mineral or minerals