mineral

mineral — noun

1. a natural solid substance with a fixed chemical makeup that is formed in the gro

1.nounB1
Definition

a natural solid substance with a fixed chemical makeup that is formed in the ground and is not from a living source, such as gold, salt, or coal, which people dig up and use.

Example

The region has rich mineral deposits, including iron and copper.

collocation: mineral deposits

Lucas collected mineral samples from the volcanic mountains last summer.

collocation: mineral samples / collect minerals

Common collocations
  • mineral deposits
  • mineral resources
  • mineral extraction
  • mineral wealth
  • precious minerals
  • rare minerals
  • mineral content
Synonyms
  • ore

    Ore is rock that contains enough of a mineral to mine profitably; all ores contain minerals, but not all minerals are ores.

  • rock

    Rock is a solid mass made of one or more minerals mixed together; mineral is a single chemical substance.

Grammar Patterns

mineral is found in [place]

[type] of mineral

mineral + noun (deposit, resource)

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'minerals' when referring broadly to a region's natural geological resources, as in 'mineral deposits' or 'mineral wealth'.

Common Mistakes

I found a mineral in my garden.
I found a piece of quartz in my garden.
'Mineral' is a broad category name, not a word for a specific rock or crystal you pick up.
This rock is a single mineral.
This rock contains several minerals.
Most rocks are mixtures of multiple minerals, not a single one.

2. an inorganic chemical element that the human body needs in small amounts from fo

2.nounB1
Definition

an inorganic chemical element that the human body needs in small amounts from food or supplements to stay healthy and work properly, such as calcium, iron, or zinc.

Example

Kasia takes a daily vitamin and mineral supplement every morning.

collocation: vitamin and mineral supplement

Dark green vegetables are rich in minerals like iron and calcium.

collocation: rich in minerals

Common collocations
  • essential minerals
  • dietary minerals
  • mineral deficiency
  • mineral supplement
  • vitamins and minerals
  • trace minerals
  • mineral intake
Synonyms
  • nutrient

    Nutrient is a broader category that includes vitamins, proteins, fats, and minerals; mineral specifically means inorganic nutrients.

  • trace element

    Trace element refers to minerals needed in very tiny amounts, like zinc or selenium; not all minerals are trace elements.

Grammar Patterns

rich in + minerals

mineral + noun (supplement, deficiency)

essential + mineral

Usage Note

Countable when listing specific nutrients ('calcium and iron are essential minerals'); uncountable when referring to the general category ('this food contains mineral'). Often paired with 'vitamins' in the fixed phrase 'vitamins and minerals'.

Common Mistakes

Protein is an important mineral for muscles.
Protein is an important nutrient for muscles.
Minerals are inorganic; protein is organic and is not a mineral.

3. (British English, informal) a cold, sweet drink with bubbles of gas, containing

3.nounB1
Definition

(British English, informal) a cold, sweet drink with bubbles of gas, containing no alcohol; a fizzy soft drink.

Example

Tariq bought a bottle of mineral water from the corner shop.

The children asked for minerals and crisps at the birthday party.

British plural use: 'minerals' = fizzy drinks

Common collocations
  • have a mineral
  • bottle of mineral
  • minerals and crisps
  • minerals and snacks
Synonyms
  • soda

    Soda is the common American term for a fizzy drink; mineral is the British equivalent.

  • pop

    Pop is another regional term for fizzy drinks, used in parts of the US, Canada, and the UK.

Grammar Patterns

have + a mineral

mineral + and + snack

Usage Note

This sense is primarily British and informal. The word is often used in the plural ('minerals') to refer to a selection of fizzy drinks, especially in the context of a snack or meal. In American English, 'soda' or 'pop' is used instead.

Common Mistakes

I ordered a mineral at the bar in New York.
I ordered a soda at the bar in New York.
This British meaning is not understood in American English.

mineral — adjective

Word family

  • mineralize
    verbB2
  • mineralization
    nounC1
  • mineralogical
    adjectiveC1
  • mineralogist
    nounC1
  • mineralogy
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Mineral is the broadest term for a natural, inorganic substance found in the earth's crust with a definite chemical composition. Ore refers to rock or mineral deposits from which valuable metals can be profitably extracted — all ores are minerals, but not all minerals are ores. Rock is a solid mass made of one or more minerals mixed together; for example, granite is a rock made of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Crystal refers to a mineral with a regular geometric shape determined by its atomic structure — quartz crystals are a well-known example. Gemstone describes a mineral that has been cut and polished for jewellery, such as diamonds or emeralds. To see the difference: gold found in a mountain is a mineral; when the deposit is large enough to mine, it is called gold ore; pure gold can form crystals, though this is rare; and when a ruby is cut and set in a ring, it becomes a gemstone.

orerock ↗crystal ↗gemstone

Common collocations

Phrases

  • vitamins and minerals
  • mineral and organic
  • mineral-rich soil

Prepositions

  • rich in minerals
  • source of minerals
  • made of mineral

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'minera' meaning 'ore' or 'mine', through Old French 'mineral'. The word entered English in the 1400s, originally referring to substances obtained by mining. The dietary sense developed in the 1700s and 1800s as scientists discovered that certain inorganic elements are essential for life. The British use of 'mineral' for a fizzy drink comes from 'mineral water', which originally meant water from a natural spring containing dissolved minerals.