1
: a massive hard dark quartz that produces a spark when struck by steel
2
: an implement of flint used in prehistoric cultures
3
a
: a piece of flint
b
: a material used for producing a spark
especially
: an alloy (as of iron and cerium) used in lighters
4
: something resembling flint in hardness
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It Isn't Hard to Learn the Meaning of Flint
A somewhat impure variety of quartz, flint is usually gray to brown or nearly black in color. It is very hard, producing a spark when struck with steel. Flint provided one of the main sources of tools and weapons for Stone Age people. It is used today as an abrasive agent on sandpapers and in mills that grind raw materials for the ceramic and paint industries.
Cite this Entry
“Flint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flint. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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