A soft and earthy mineral of a white or yellowish color, and with a waxy lustre, found at Langbanshytta in Sweden. It is a hydrated silicate of magnesia, and resembles meerschaum.
"The geologist carefully examined the rare aphrodite specimen from Langbanshytta for its characteristic white color and waxy lustre."
In plain English: Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
"My daughter was named Aphrodite after her favorite Greek goddess."
Usage: This term refers to a specific rare mineral rather than the Greek goddess of love, so it should only be used when discussing geology or Swedish rock formations. Avoid confusing this scientific name with common synonyms for beauty or romance unless explicitly clarifying the geological context.
The goddess of beauty and love, born when Cronus castrated his father, Uranus, and threw his genitalia into the sea. Her Roman counterpart is Venus.
"In Greek mythology, Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam as the goddess of beauty and love after her father Uranus was castrated by Cronus."
The name Aphrodite comes directly from the ancient language of Greece. It was adopted into English to refer specifically to that goddess without any change in meaning.