chatoyant
Americanadjective
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changing in luster or color.
chatoyant silk.
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Jewelry. reflecting a single streak of light when cut in a cabochon.
noun
adjective
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having changeable lustre; twinkling
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(of a gem, esp a cabochon) displaying a band of light reflected off inclusions of other minerals
noun
Other Word Forms
- chatoyance noun
- chatoyancy noun
Etymology
Origin of chatoyant
First recorded in 1790–1800; from French, present participle of chatoyer “to change luster like a cat's eye,” derivative of chat “cat”; cat ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But one of the prettiest though commonest gems in the island is the "Moon-stone," a variety of pearly adularia presenting chatoyant rays when simply polished.
From Ceylon; an Account of the Island Physical, Historical, and Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History, Antiquities and Productions, Volume 1 by Tennent, James Emerson, Sir
While Nekhludoff was thus exchanging the customary kisses with the peasant and taking from him a dark-brown egg, he noticed the chatoyant dress of Matriena Pavlovna and the lovely head with the red bow.
From The Awakening The Resurrection by Tolstoy, Leo, graf
He shook himself free and stood straight, his jaws hard and his eyes, absorbing what light there was from the stars, chatoyant.
From A Splendid Hazard by MacGrath, Harold
The faint eery light that glowed in the stranger’s deep-set eyes was not the lambent flame seen in the chatoyant orbs of some night-prowling jungle beast.
From Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1931 by Various
Cymophane, or chatoyant chrysoberyl, may also be asteriated.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
