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chrysoberyl

American  
[kris-uh-ber-uhl] / ˈkrɪs əˌbɛr əl /

noun

  1. a mineral, beryllium aluminate, BeAl 2 O 4 , occurring in green or yellow crystals, sometimes used as a gem.


chrysoberyl British  
/ ˈkrɪsəˌbɛrɪl /

noun

  1. a rare very hard greenish-yellow mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in orthorhombic crystalline form and occurring in coarse granite: used as a gemstone in the form of cat's eye and alexandrite. Formula: BeAl 2 O 4

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of chrysoberyl

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin chrȳsoberyllus < Greek chrȳsobḗryllos, equivalent to chrȳso- chryso- + bḗryllos beryl

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.

Another important variety is that of the chrysoberyl called "cymophane."

From The Chemistry, Properties and Tests of Precious Stones by Mastin, John

In chrysoberyl, however, the beryllium exists as an aluminate, having the formula BeAl2O4, or BeO�Al2O3.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various

Another mineral species which, like spinel, has just three elements in its composition is chrysoberyl.

From A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public by Wade, Frank Bertram

Passing on to the next mineral in the scale of hardness we come to chrysoberyl, which is rated as 81⁄2 on Mohs's scale.

From A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public by Wade, Frank Bertram

In this stratum of gravel an infinite number of small, and for the most part worthless, specimens of gems are found, consisting of sapphire, ruby, emerald, jacinth, tourmaline, chrysoberyl, zircon, cat's-eye, "moonstone," and "star-stone."

From Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon by Baker, Samuel White, Sir