beryl

ber·yl  (brl)

n.

A transparent to translucent glassy mineral, essentially aluminum beryllium silicate, Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈, occurring in hexagonal prisms and constituting the chief source of beryllium. Transparent varieties in white, green, blue, yellow, or pink are valued as gems.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin bryllus, from Greek brullos, from brullion, from Prakrit veruliya, from Pali veuriya; perhaps akin to Tamil veiru or viar, to whiten, become pale.]

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beryl·line (--ln, -ln) adj.

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beryl

Noun

a transparent hard mineral, used as a source of beryllium and as a gemstone [Greek bērullos]

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beryl  (brl)

A usually green or bluish-green hexagonal mineral occurring as transparent to translucent prisms in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Transparent varieties, such as emeralds and aquamarine, are valued as gems. Beryl is the main source of the element beryllium. Chemical formula: Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

beryl - the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems atomic number 4, Be, beryllium, glucinium - a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element mineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition aquamarine - a transparent variety of beryl that is blue green in color emerald - a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone morganite - a kind of pink beryl used as a gemstone