chalcedony

American  

[kal-sed-n-ee, kal-suh-doh-nee] / kælˈsɛd n i, ˈkæl səˌdoʊ ni /

noun

PLURAL

chalcedonies

1. a microcrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, often milky or grayish.

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chalcedony British  

/ kælˈsɛdənɪ, ˌkælsɪˈdɒnɪk /

noun

1. a microcrystalline often greyish form of quartz with crystals arranged in parallel fibres: a gemstone. Formula: SiO 2

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chalcedony Scientific  

/ kăl-sĕd′n-ē /

1. A type of quartz that has a waxy luster and varies from transparent to translucent. It is usually white, pale-blue, gray, brown, or black and is often found as a lining in cavities. Agate, flint, and onyx are forms of chalcedony. Chemical formula: SiO ₂ .

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Other Word Forms

• chalcedonic adjective
• chalcedonous adjective

Etymology

Origin of chalcedony

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English calcedonie, from Late Latin chalcēdōnius (Vulgate, Revelation 21:19), equivalent to chalcēdōn- (from Greek chalkēdṓn “chalcedony,” identified by Saint Jerome with Chalcedon, the city) + -ius adjective suffix; -ious

Example Sentences

One supposed mammal tooth was actually a bit of the mineral chalcedony.

From New York Times

The outfit was by 4SDesigns, but that the accompanying chain around his neck was an 18-karat white gold, platinum, chalcedony, turquoise and diamond necklace by Cartier somewhat complicated the point.

From New York Times

Speakers of English sometimes have trouble knowing how to pronounce Greek-derived words with “ch” in them—“chalcedony,” “chiropodist,” “chimera”—because “ch” also represents the sound in such English words as “church” and “cheese.”

From The New Yorker

Roman intaglio ring paired with a gold impression of the same carved image in reflection, and a five-row necklace composed of 2,000-year-old Roman blue chalcedony beads with a black silver and diamond clasp.

From Forbes

Watts gleamed in jewels, pairing her pavé diamond rings with a dazzler of a sapphire, diamond and chalcedony necklace.

From Los Angeles Times