sunstone

American

[suhn-stohn] / ˈsʌnˌstoʊn /

noun

a reddish variety of oligoclase feldspar, used as a gem, having a red and bright-yellow play of color.

sunstone British

/ ˈsʌnˌstəʊn /

noun

another name for aventurine

"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 sunstone

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sun, stone

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.

And Oregon produces different varieties of sunstone and jasper.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2022

But what the country lacks in gemological richness, it makes up in a startling variety of gems mined coast to coast, from Oregon sunstone to Maine tourmaline.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2022

Speculating on why a sunstone hasn't been found yet highlights how the simple passage of time can destroy our understanding of whole cultures.

From The Guardian • Apr. 9, 2013

The Norse sagas mention a mysterious "sunstone" used for navigation.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 2, 2011

Victor Grego, listening to his own recorded voice, rubbed the sunstone on his left finger with the heel of his right palm and watched it brighten.

From Little Fuzzy by Piper, H. Beam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023