A beautiful crystalline compound, silicon carbide (SiC), consisting of carbon and silicon in combination; -- also called carbon silicide. It is made by heating carbon and sand together in an electric furnace. The commercial article is dark-colored and iridescent. It is harder than emery, and is used as an abrasive. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

carborundum, n. a compound of carbon and silicon used esp. as an abrasive.

Etymology

CARBON + CORUNDUM

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