laterite

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lat·er·ite / ˈlatəˌrīt/ • n. a reddish clayey material, hard when dry, forming a topsoil in some tropical or subtropical regions and sometimes used for building. ∎ Geol. a clayey soil horizon rich in iron and aluminum oxides, formed by weathering of igneous rocks in moist warm climates.DERIVATIVES: lat·er·it·ic / ˌlatəˈritik/ adj.

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