Definition

A type of rock made up of sharp, broken pieces that are held together by a finer material like sand or clay.

Example

The geologist collected samples of breccia to study its formation.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a rock called breccia?

No, I haven't! What's special about it?

It's made of sharp fragments stuck together in a fine matrix.

That sounds interesting! I’d love to learn more about different rocks.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Breccia comes from the Italian word 'breccia', meaning broken or fragmented. The term is derived from the Latin 'brēccia', which also means a broken stone or rubble. The word describes a type of rock composed of broken fragments cemented together.

Memory Tip

Think of the Italian word for broken ('breccia') to remember that breccia refers to a rock made of broken pieces.

Visually Confused Words