Standard Lemma guide

laterite

noun · 2 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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  • UK: /ˈlatəɹʌɪt/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil formed in the tropics that has been leached of soluble minerals leaving insoluble iron and aluminium oxides and hydroxides; used to make bricks and roads.

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

2

noun

Meaning 2

a red soil produced by rock decay; contains insoluble deposits of ferric and aluminum oxides

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: soil, dirt

History

Etymology

From Latin later (“brick”) + -ite.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lateriitti — red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil
  • French: latérite — red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil
  • Greek: λατερίτης (laterítis) — red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil
  • Polish: lateryt — red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil
  • Spanish: laterita — red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil
  • Vietnamese: đá ong — red hard or gravel-like soil or subsoil