Per·ma·nent a.  Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent impression.
    Eternity stands permanent and fixed.   --Dryden.
 Permanent gases Chem. & Physics, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; -- also called incondensible gases or incoercible gases, before their liquefaction in 1877.  The term is now archaic.
 Permanent way, the roadbed and superstructure of a finished railway; -- so called in distinction from the contractor's temporary way.
 Permanent white Chem., barium sulphate (heavy spar), used as a white pigment or paint, in distinction from white lead, which tarnishes and darkens from the formation of the sulphide.
 Syn: -- Lasting; durable; constant. See Lasting.

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 Ba·ry·tes n.  Min. Barium sulphate, generally called heavy spar or barite. See Barite.

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 Ba·rite n. Min. Native sulphate of barium, a mineral occurring in transparent, colorless, white to yellow crystals (generally tabular), also in granular form, and in compact massive forms resembling marble. It has a high specific gravity, and hence is often called heavy spar. It is a common mineral in metallic veins.

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 Heav·y spar Min. Native barium sulphate or barite, -- so called because of its high specific gravity as compared with other non-metallic minerals.

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 heavy spar
      n : a white or colorless mineral (BaSO4); the main source of
          barium [syn: barite, barytes, barium sulphate]