apatite

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ap=a=tite

CIDE DICTIONARY

apatite, n. [Gr. deceit, fr. to deceive; it having been often mistaken for other minerals.].

 Native phosphate of lime, occurring usually in six-sided prisms, color often pale green, transparent or translucent.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

apatite, n. a naturally occurring crystalline mineral of calcium phosphate and fluoride, used in the manufacture of fertilizers.

Etymology

G Apatit f. Gk apate deceit (from its deceptive forms)