nummulite noun. ['nʌmjʊlʌɪt] E19.
[from mod. Latin Nummulites (see below), formed as NUMMULAR: see -ITE¹.]
Zoology & Palaeontology. A fossil or extant foraminiferan of the genus Camerina (formerly Nummulites) or a related genus, having a calcareous and typically disc-shaped skeleton, and numerous in certain Tertiary strata.

■ nummuline adjective & noun (now rare) (a) adjective = nummulitic; (b) noun = NUMMULITE: M19.

■ nummulitic [-'lɪtɪk] adjective (Geology) (esp. of limestone) containing or consisting of nummulites M19.

■ nummulitid noun any foraminiferan of the family Nummulitidae L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲