n.
A dense, homogeneous rock with constituents so fine that they cannot be seen by the naked eye.
[From Greek aphanēs, unseen : a-, not; see a-1 + phainesthai, phan-, to appear, passive of phainein, to show; see phenomenon.]
aphanitic aph'a·nit'ic (-nĭt'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
