n.
A yellow, white, or colorless crystalline mineral of barium sulfate, BaSO4, that is used in paint and as the chief source of barium chemicals. Also called heavy spar.
[Greek barus, heavy + -ITE1.]
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.
