calcareous

calcareous

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin calcārius (“of or pertaining to lime”), derived from calx (“lime”). Similar to calcium.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kælˈkɛəɹiəs/

Adjective

calcareous (comparative more calcareous, superlative most calcareous)

1. Resembling or containing calcium carbonate or limestone; chalky.
   • 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 15:

     The traveller from the coast, who, after plodding northward for a score of miles over calcareous downs and corn-lands, suddenly reaches the verge of one of these escarpments[.]

Derived terms

• calcareous sponge

Translations

resembling or containing limestone

Catalan: calcari Dutch: kalkachtig (nl), kalkhoudend (nl), kalk- French: calcaire (fr) Galician: calcario m Italian: calcareo (it) Japanese: 石灰質の (sekkaishitsu no), 炭酸カルシウムの (tansan karushiumu no) Polish: wapienny (pl) Russian: известко́вый (ru) (izvestkóvyj) Spanish: calcáreo (es)