\Min"er*al\, n. [F. min['e]ral, LL. minerale, fr. minera
mine. See {Mine}, v. i.]
1. An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature,
   having a definite chemical composition and usually a
   distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy
   igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of
   minerals.
2. A mine. [Obs.] --Shak.
3. Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the
   most general classification of things into three kingdoms
   (animal, vegetable, and mineral).

\Min"er*al\, a.
1. Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or
   of minerals; as, a mineral substance.
2. Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.
{Mineral acids} (Chem.), inorganic acids, as sulphuric,
   nitric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, acids, etc., as
   distinguished from the {organic acids}.
{Mineral blue}, the name usually given to azurite, when
   reduced to an impalpable powder for coloring purposes.
{Mineral candle}, a candle made of paraffine.
{Mineral caoutchouc}, an elastic mineral pitch, a variety of
   bitumen, resembling caoutchouc in elasticity and softness.
   See {Caoutchouc}, and {Elaterite}.
{Mineral chameleon} (Chem.) See {Chameleon mineral}, under
   {Chameleon}.
{Mineral charcoal}. See under {Charcoal}.
{Mineral cotton}. See {Mineral wool} (below).
{Mineral green}, a green carbonate of copper; malachite.
{Mineral kingdom} (Nat. Sci.), that one of the three grand
   divisions of nature which embraces all inorganic objects,
   as distinguished from plants or animals.
{Mineral oil}. See {Naphtha}, and {Petroleum}.
{Mineral paint}, a pigment made chiefly of some natural
   mineral substance, as red or yellow iron ocher.
{Mineral patch}. See {Bitumen}, and {Asphalt}.
{Mineral right}, the right of taking minerals from land.
{Mineral salt} (Chem.), a salt of a mineral acid.
{Mineral tallow}, a familiar name for {hatchettite}, from its
   fatty or spermaceti-like appearance.
{Mineral water}. See under {Water}.
{Mineral wax}. See {Ozocerite}.
{Mineral wool}, a fibrous wool-like material, made by blowing
   a powerful jet of air or steam through melted slag. It is
   a poor conductor of heat.