spinel

or spi·nelle

[ spi-nel, spin-l ]

noun

any of a group of minerals composed principally of oxides of magnesium, aluminum, iron, manganese, chromium, etc., characterized by their hardness and octahedral crystals.
a mineral of this group, essentially magnesium aluminate, MgAl2O4, some varieties being used as gems.

Origin of spinel

1520–30; <French spinelle<Italian spinella, equivalent to spin(a) thorn (<Latin spīna) + -ella-elle

Words Nearby spinel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spinel in a sentence

The rock—which also contains the plain-old mineral plagioclase—includes pink spinel, a prized jewel on Earth.
Space Bling: From Diamond Planets to Crystal Oceans to Precious Moon Jewels | Alexa Valiente, Jaewon Kang | October 13, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The rubies of Burma are found in crystalline limestones and are constantly accompanied by precious spinel (or balas-ruby).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 6 | Various
Some of the alumina and iron oxide may occasionally be chemically combined, so as to form an iron spinel, or hercynite.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 | Various
Then follows the topaz, which, with spinel and chrysoberyl, has a hardness of 8; whilst quartz falls a degree lower.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 | Various
Mention has been made above of a stone frequently substituted for the true ruby, called the “spinel” or “balas” ruby.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 | Various

The spinel and ruby occur together in nature, stones from Burma being as often spinel as true Oriental ruby.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for spinel

spinel

/ (spɪˈnɛl) /

noun

any of a group of hard glassy minerals of variable colour consisting of oxides of aluminium, magnesium, chromium, iron, zinc, or manganese and occurring in the form of octahedral crystals: used as gemstones
a hard, glassy mineral composed of magnesium-aluminium oxide found in metamorphosed limestones and many basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks. Formula: MgAl 2 O 4

Origin of spinel

C16: from French spinelle, from Italian spinella, diminutive of spina a thorn, from Latin; so called from the shape of the crystals

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

Scientific definitions for spinel

spinel

A hard, variously colored cubic mineral, having usually octahedral crystals and occurring in igneous and metamorphosed carbonate rocks. The red variety is valued as a gem and is sometimes confused with the ruby. Chemical formula: MgAl2O4.
Any of a group of minerals that are oxides of magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, or aluminum.

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