anatase

noun

an·​a·​tase ˈa-nə-ˌtās How to pronounce anatase (audio)
-ˌtāz
: a tetragonal mineral consisting of titanium dioxide and used especially as a white pigment

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, borrowed from Greek anátasis "extension upward, height," action noun derivative (with -sis -sis) from anateínein "to stretch out, lift up, extend," from ana- ana- + teínein "to stretch, extend" — more at tenant entry 1

Note: The term was introduced by the French mineralogist René Just Haüy (1743-1822) in Traité de Minéralogie, tome 3 (Paris, 1801), p. 129. The name alludes to the steep angle of the crystal's pyramid relative to other minerals.

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anatase was in 1802

Rhymes for anatase

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Browse Nearby Words

anat
anatase
anatectic
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Cite this Entry

“Anatase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anatase. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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