Garnet

¹ American  

[gahr-nit] / ˈgɑr nɪt /

noun

1. Henry Highland, 1815–82, U.S. clergyman and abolitionist.

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garnet ² American  

[gahr-nit] / ˈgɑr nɪt /

noun

1. any of a group of hard, vitreous minerals, silicates of calcium, magnesium, iron, or manganese with aluminum or iron, varying in color: a deep-red transparent variety is used as a gem and as an abrasive.

2. a deep-red color.

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garnet ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɑːnɪt /

noun

1. nautical a tackle used for lifting cargo

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garnet ² British  

/ ˈɡɑːnɪt /

noun

1. any of a group of hard glassy red, yellow, or green minerals consisting of the silicates of calcium, iron, manganese, chromium, magnesium, and aluminium in cubic crystalline form: used as a gemstone and abrasive. Formula: A 3 B 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 where A is a divalent metal and B is a trivalent metal

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garnet Scientific  

/ gär′nĭt /

1. Any of several common red, brown, black, green, or yellow minerals having the general chemical formula A ₃ B ₂ SiO ₈, where A is either calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), or manganese (Mn) and B is either aluminum (Al), manganese, iron, chromium (Cr), or vanadium (V). Garnet crystals are dodecahedral in shape, transparent to semitransparent, and have a vitreous luster. They usually occur in metamorphic rocks but also occur in igneous and sedimentary rocks.

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Usage

What does garnet mean? A garnet is a deep-red transparent gemstone.This is just one type of garnet, which is a type of mineral. Garnet can also be brown, black, green, or yellow, and some kinds are opaque (nontransparent). Still, the name garnet is most popularly associated with the glassy red gemstone, and the word garnet can also be used to refer to a deep-red color.Garnet gems are traditionally considered semiprecious, which is a label applied to a class of gems that have commercial value but one that is less than that of stones labeled precious. However, garnets can cost much more than some precious stones.Garnet is the traditional birthstone for the month of January. It is also associated with the zodiac signs Capricorn and Aquarius.Along with its use in jewelry and other decorative uses, garnet is also used as an abrasive, which is a material used for grinding or polishing. For example, garnet paper is a kind of sandpaper made with crushed garnet.Example: My mom gave me a necklace with a garnet pendant for my birthday.

Other Word Forms

• garnet-like adjective
• garnetlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of garnet

1275–1325; Middle English garnet, gernate < Old French gernate, grenade < Latin grānātum granular; pomegranate

Example Sentences

Piller juxtaposes opals, garnets and pearls with less conventional materials such as tile fragments, snakeskin, bits of lava from a trip to Iceland, and bullet casings, all bound together with strips of leather or vinyl.

From Los Angeles Times

Their wings, in shades of lavender, green and red, represented certain crystals and traits: amethyst as one of calm and purity, malachite as one of protection and rose garnet for healing and love.

From Los Angeles Times

"We could see it was something really exciting as despite more than 1,000 years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting."

From BBC

I am too proud to eavesdrop, and so I could only wedge myself into the pearls, avoiding the hatpins, with Camilla’s garnet ring gouging into my back and Beatrice’s nose in my ear.

From Literature

I prefer the garnet sweet potatoes for the ultimate texture, but I promise any and all varieties will work just fine.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cardinal
• coral
• crimson
• flaming
• glowing
• maroon
• rose
• wine