Meaning & use

graphite

noun·Academic

A soft, black, crystalline form of carbon used in pencil leads, lubricants, and batteries.

See it in a sentence

The pencil's dark mark comes from a thin core of graphite mixed with clay.

Engineers use graphite as a lubricant because it reduces friction between metal parts.

A note on using this word

Graphite is often confused with graphic; the two are unrelated words despite their similar spelling.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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