Standard Lemma guide

caliche

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /kəˈlit͡ʃi/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A crude form of sodium nitrate from South America; used as a fertilizer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: chemistry, geography, geology, mineralogy, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A layer of hard clay subsoil or sedimentary rock; hardpan.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

nitrate-bearing rock or gravel of the sodium nitrate deposits of Chile and Peru

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rock, stone

4

noun

Meaning 4

crust or layer of hard subsoil encrusted with calcium-carbonate occurring in arid or semiarid regions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hardpan

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: soil, dirt

History

Etymology

From Spanish caliche, from Latin calx (“pebble”); compare chalk.