graphite
An allotrope of carbon, consisting of planes of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal arrays with the planes stacked loosely, that is used as a dry lubricant, in "lead" pencils, and as a moderator in some nuclear reactors.
Other meanings
Graphite-reinforced plastic, a composite plastic made with graphite fibers noted for lightweight strength and stiffness.
“Modern tennis racquets are made of graphite, fibreglass and other man-made materials.”
A grey colour, resembling graphite or the marks made with a graphite pencil.
Synonyms
- black lead
A kind of
- carbon
Kinds of graphite
- pencil
- lead
Related words
- aerographite
- electrographite
- Graphalloy
- graphene
- graphite bomb
- graphite fluoride
- graphitelike
- graphitic
- graphitization
- graphitize
- graphitoid
- nanographite
Word history
From German "Graphit".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “graphite” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.