\Gran"ite\, n. [It. granito granite, adj., grainy, p. p.
of granire to make grainy, fr. L. granum grain; cf. F.
granit. See {Grain}.] (Geol.)
A crystalline, granular rock, consisting of quartz, feldspar,
and mica, and usually of a whitish, grayish, or flesh-red
color. It differs from gneiss in not having the mica in
planes, and therefore in being destitute of a schistose
structure.
Note: Varieties containing hornblende are common. See also
      the {Note} under {Mica}.
{Gneissoid granite}, granite in which the mica has traces of
   a regular arrangement.
{Graphic granite}, granite consisting of quartz and feldspar
   without mica, and having the quartz crystals so arranged
   in the transverse section like oriental characters.
{Porphyritic granite}, granite containing feldspar in
   distinct crystals.
{Hornblende granite}, or
{Syenitic granite}, granite containing hornblende as well as
   mica, or, according to some authorities hornblende
   replacing the mica.
{Granite ware}.
(a) A kind of stoneware.
(b) A Kind of ironware, coated with an enamel resembling
    granite.