quartz

American  

[kwawrts] / kwɔrts /

noun

1. one of the commonest minerals, silicon dioxide, SiO 2 , having many varieties that differ in color, luster, etc., and occurring either in masses (as agate, bloodstone, chalcedony, jasper, etc.) or in crystals (as rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, etc.): the chief constituent of sand and sandstone, and an important constituent of many other rocks. It is piezoelectric and used to control the frequencies of radio transmitters.

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quartz British  

/ kwɔːts /

noun

1. a colourless mineral often tinted by impurities, found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It is used in the manufacture of glass, abrasives, and cement, and also as a gemstone; the violet-purple variety is amethyst, the brown variety is cairngorm, the yellow variety is citrine, and the pink variety is rose quartz. Composition: silicon dioxide. Formula: SiO 2 . Crystal structure: hexagonal

2. short for quartz glass

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quartz Scientific  

/ kwôrts /

1. A hard, transparent trigonal mineral that, after feldspar, is the most common mineral on the surface of the Earth. It occurs as a component of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks as well as in a variety of other forms such as rock crystal, flint, and agate. Some crystalline forms, such as amethyst, are considered gemstones. Chemical formula: SiO ₂ .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• quartzous
  adjective
• quartzose
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of quartz

First recorded in 1750–60, quartz is from the German word Quarz

Explanation

Quartz is a mineral that's usually clear or white, but is sometimes tinted a translucent color. It's common for quartz to be part of other rocks, and often you can see its stripes cutting through smooth beach stones. Quartz is very hard and shiny, and it's also quite common. There are many different types of quartz, and the rarest ones are considered semi-precious gemstones, like citrine and amethyst. This is the quartz that's used to make jewelry. Its chemical name is silicon dioxide, and it has a crystal structure. Quartz comes from the German Quarz, "rock crystal."

Example Sentences

The main living space features an open plan that flows nicely from the living room to the dining area and sleek kitchen, which features a 14-foot island, quartz countertops, and luxe appliances.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

Biel, Switzerland-based Swatch is led by the family of Nicolas Hayek, credited with saving Swiss watchmaking in the 1980s from the threat of low-cost quartz models from Japan.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

By shining lasers through the material and studying how the reflected light changed in color, wavelength, etc., they confirmed that chiral phonons in quartz produce a significant magnetic field.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

There are around 30 of us, maybe more — all experiencing the soundscape of the quartz bowls; a tech-free hour designed for us to commune with memory, creativity and emotion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Several of the homes on the way to the quarries were built from huge blocks of granite, containing quartz, feldspar, and mica, all visible to the naked eye, as Fred once showed me.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen