from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Silicate \Sil"i*cate\, n.[Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.)
A salt of silicic acid.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]