Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of soil or rock: A reddish, residual soil or soft rock formed by the intense weathering and decomposition of underlying rock in tropical and subtropical regions. It is rich in iron and aluminum oxides, particularly iron oxide which gives it its characteristic red color, and is often used in construction.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

Advanced Usage

• "Ferruginous laterite": A type of laterite particularly high in iron content.
• "Lateritic crust": A hardened surface layer that can form on top of laterite profiles.

Variants and Related Words

• Lateritic (adj): Of or relating to laterite.
• Laterization (n): The process by which laterite is formed.

Synonyms

• Ironstone (in some geological contexts, though not identical).
• Duricrust (a general term for a hard crust on soil, which can include laterite).

Related Terms

• Bauxite: An aluminum-rich lateritic ore, which is the primary source of aluminum.
• Plinthite: A specific iron-rich, humus-poor mixture in soil that hardens upon exposure, often found in lateritic materials.

Noun

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