mica

American

[mahy-kuh] / ˈmaɪ kə /

noun

any member of a group of minerals, hydrous silicates of aluminum with other bases, chiefly potassium, magnesium, iron, and lithium, that separate readily into thin, tough, often transparent, and usually elastic laminae; isinglass.

mica British

/ maɪˈkeɪʃəs, ˈmaɪkə /

noun

any of a group of lustrous rock-forming minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminium, potassium, etc, in monoclinic crystalline form, occurring in igneous and metamorphic rock. Because of their resistance to electricity and heat they are used as dielectrics, in heating elements, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

mica Scientific

/ mī′kə /

Any of a group of hydrous aluminosilicate minerals with the general formula (K,Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Li,Al) _2–3 (Al,Si) ₄ O ₁₀ (OH,F) ₂ that can be split easily into thin, partly transparent sheets. Mica is common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and often occurs as flakes or sheets. It is highly resistant to heat and is used in electric fuses and other electrical equipment. Muscovite and biotite are types of mica

Other Word Forms

micaceous adjective
micalike adjective

Etymology

Origin of mica

First recorded in 1700–10, mica is from the Latin word mīca crumb, morsel, grain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some of the rocks were black and some slate, but many were silverish, shimmering with what looked like mica.

From Literature

Black Barn Apiary’s Luxe Gold Honey is infused with edible gold mica and made on 20 acres of restored native prairie land in Wisconsin.

From Salon

In November 2021, the Irish government introduced what it said was a significant number of improvements to a previous scheme for mica homeowners.

From BBC

The first, in 1967, had a concrete or cement Venus purchased at a garden center covered with mica to create a glittery surface.

From Seattle Times

A tall hat of fetal lamb balanced like a wasp’s nest on Grigori’s head, shadowing eyes as hard and gray as mica, with the same shallow gleam.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023