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

• quartzose adjective
• quartzous adjective

Etymology

Origin of quartz

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

Example Sentences

At each location, the team identified shocked quartz -- grains of sand that have been physically altered by extreme heat and pressure.

From Science Daily

This layer is also rich in platinum, iridium, metallic melt particles, shocked quartz, and fused minerals known as meltglass.

From Science Daily

Mr Mohammed says that his father and grandfather had dug through these plots for decades but discovered nothing more that "dust and slivers of quartz".

From BBC

The egg opens up to reveal a tiny basket of white quartz flowers inside.

From BBC

Inside the egg, a surprise awaits: a bouquet of flowers made of white quartz wood anemones, each flower with gold wire stem and stamens.

From Barron's