noun
Uncommon
graphite
GRA-fyt
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.”
noun
1
A soft, dark grey form of carbon used in pencil "lead," lubricants, and industrial materials.
"The pencil left a smudge of graphite on his fingers."
2
A dark grey color resembling graphite.
"The car came in a sleek graphite finish."
How to use graphite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft grey mineral used in pencils, not to be confused with "graphic."
Common mistake
Pencil "lead" is actually graphite, not the metal lead.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
graphite pencil
graphite finish
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Word forms
- Plural
- graphites
- Third person singular
- graphites
- Past tense
- graphited
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.
Class of 1789
graphite joined the language around 1789.
See the full Class of 1789 →
Synonyms
View more →
plumbago
black lead
Related words
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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