graphite
Graphite (noun) means a soft, dark grey form of carbon used in pencil "lead," lubricants, and industrial materials. Example: “The pencil left a smudge of graphite on his fingers.”
How to use graphite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft grey mineral used in pencils, not to be confused with "graphic."
Pencil "lead" is actually graphite, not the metal lead.
Word forms
graphited past tense, graphites plural, graphites singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pencil left a smudge of _____ on his fingers.
Etymology
Coined in German (Graphit) in 1789 from Greek graphein, "to write," because of its use in pencils.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for graphite
See all rhymes for graphite →Frequently asked questions
What does “graphite” mean?
The word “graphite” means a soft, dark grey form of carbon used in pencil "lead," lubricants, and industrial materials. In plain terms, the soft grey mineral used in pencils, not to be confused with "graphic.".
How do you pronounce “graphite”?
“Graphite” is pronounced GRA-fyt (/ˈɡɹæfaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “graphite” in a sentence?
Here is “graphite” used in a sentence: “The pencil left a smudge of graphite on his fingers.”
What part of speech is “graphite”?
“Graphite” is a noun.
Where does the word “graphite” come from?
The word “graphite” dates back to around 1789 and comes from German. Coined in German (Graphit) in 1789 from Greek graphein, "to write," because of its use in pencils.
Is “graphite” a common word?
“Graphite” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “graphite” have?
“Graphite” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, dark grey form of carbon used in pencil "lead," lubricants, and industrial materials.
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