peridot

American  

[per-i-doh, -dot] / ˈpɛr ɪˌdoʊ, -ˌdɒt /

noun

Mineralogy.

peridots plural

1. a green transparent variety of olivine, used as a gem.

---

peridot British  

/ ˈpɛrɪˌdɒt /

noun

1. a pale green transparent variety of the olivine chrysolite, used as a gemstone

---

Usage

What does peridot mean? Peridot (pronounced PAIR-i-doh or PAIR-i-dot) is a transparent gemstone that ranges in color from light green to bright green to dark green. Peridot is a variety of the mineral olivine and is sometimes called precious olivine. It’s considered a semiprecious gem, which is a label applied to a class of gems that have a commercial value that’s less than that of stones labeled precious, such as diamonds. Peridot is one of the birthstones for the month of August. It is associated with the zodiac signs Leo and Virgo. Example: Since I was born in August, I sometimes get peridot jewelry as a birthday gift.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• peridotic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• peridots
  plural

Etymology

Origin of peridot

1300–50; < French péridot; replacing Middle English peritot < Middle French

Explanation

Peridot is a beautifully translucent, green gemstone. If you were born in August, peridot is one of your birthstones. The origin of peridot is unclear, but it may derive either from an Arabic word meaning "gem" or the Latin pæderot, a kind of opal. Peridot is a type of mineral known as olivine; it can be used as a gemstone, cut into shapes for jewelry, and polished to a clear shine. Peridot is almost olive green, with a yellowish tint — the more iron that's present in the stone, the darker green it appears.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peridot peridots

The crown glitters with stones including tourmalines, white and yellow topazes, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, peridot, zircons, spinel and aquamarines.

From Seattle Times ● May 5, 2023

When you first start up the game, you’re presented with a baby creature — each peridot is unique — and tasked with giving it a name.

From The Verge ● Jun. 17, 2022

The new offerings come in semiprecious stones such as aquamarine, pink tourmaline, citrine, amethyst and peridot as well as precious gems such as rubies and sapphires.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2019

His penultimate dress was a lavish ballgown — regal in its sweep — in a combination of navy, bordeaux and peridot.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 18, 2015

It is appropriate to call the lighter coloured stones inclining to yellow chrysolite, and the darker green stones peridot.

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

She makes them by hand in Greece using coral, peridots, colored diamonds, sapphires and tsavorites, usually set in gold or enamel.

From New York Times ● Dec. 20, 2013

It is said that many of the finer peridots now available have been recut from old stones mined many years ago.

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

"I say!" exclaimed Lord Henry, taking from his friend's pocket a gold match-box, curiously carved, and wrought with his initials in chrysoprases and peridots.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 105, July 15th 1893 by Various

The peridots found associated with garnets are generally four or five times as large, and from their pitted and irregular appearance have been called "Job's tears."

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 810, July 11, 1891 by Various

Indeed the origin of the fine peridots of the Middle Ages is shrouded in mystery; they are, however, believed to have been found in one or more of the islands in the Red Sea.

From Shakespeare and Precious Stones Treating of the Known References of Precious Stones in Shakespeare's Works, with Comments as to the Origin of His Material, the Knowledge of the Poet Concerning Precious Stones, and References as to Where the Precious Stones of His Time Came from by Kunz, George Frederick