found: Wikipedia, Jan. 11, 2013(A silicate (SiO₄⁴⁻) is a compound containing a silicon bearing anion. The great majority of silicates are oxides, but hexafluorosilicate ([SiF₆]²⁻) and other anions are also included. Silicates comprise the majority of the earth's crust, as well as the other terrestrial planets, rocky moons, and asteroids. Sand, Portland cement, and thousands of minerals are examples of silicates.)
found: The American heritage dictionary of the English language, ©2000, via TheFreeDictionary.com, Jan. 11, 2013(silicate: 1. Any of numerous compounds containing silicon, oxygen, and one or more metals; a salt of silicic acid. 2. Any of a large group of minerals, forming over 90 percent of the earth's crust, that consist of SiO₂ or SiO₄ groupings combined with one or more metals and sometimes hydrogen.)
found: Collins English dictionary, ©2003, via TheFreeDictionary.com, Jan. 11, 2013(silicate: a salt or ester of silicic acid, esp. one of a large number of usually insoluble salts with polymeric negative ions having a structure formed of tetrahedrons of SiO₄ groups linked in rings, chains, sheets, or three dimensional frameworks. Silicates constitute a large proportion of the earth's minerals and are present in cement and glass)
