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]