Ba-rŷ'tă, n.

n. [N. Lat. baryta, -æ, from Gr. βαρύς, heavy. Cf. BARIA.] (Min.) The heaviest of the earths, the specific gravity being as high as 4. It is an oxide, the basis of which is a metallic substance called barium or barytum. It is generally found in combination with sulphuric or carbonic acid, forming the sulphate and carbonate of baryta, the former of which is called heavy-spar. Dana.