\Sil"i*cate\, n.[Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.)
A salt of silicic acid.
Note: In mineralogical chemistry the silicates include; the
      unisilicates or orthosilicates, salts of orthosilicic
      acid; the bisilicates or metasilicates, salts of
      metasilicic acid; the polysilicates or acid silicates,
      salts of the polysilicic acids; the basic silicates or
      subsilicates, in which the equivalent of base is
      greater than would be required to neutralize the acid;
      and the hydrous silicates, including the zeolites and
      many hydrated decomposition products.