spinel
Any of several hard minerals of cubic symmetry that are mixed oxides of magnesium and…Any of several hard minerals of cubic symmetry that are mixed oxides of magnesium and aluminium and are used as gemstones of various colours.
» The garnets in the detritus are accompanied by zircon, spinel, corundum, cyanite, tourmaline, olivine, etc.
Meaning
3 senses(countable, uncountable)Any of several hard minerals of cubic symmetry that are mixed oxides of magnesium and aluminium and are used as gemstones of various colours.
Spinell
шпине́льšpinélʹ
a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as gemstones
(countable, uncountable)Any crystalline material, not necessarily an oxide, that possesses the same crystal structure as this mineral.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable)Spindle; the amount of yarn that fits on a spindle.
Examples
1 sentencesThe garnets in the detritus are accompanied by zircon, spinel, corundum, cyanite, tourmaline, olivine, etc.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
French spinelle, perhaps from Latin spina (“a thorn, a prickle”), in allusion to its pointFrench spinelle, perhaps from Latin spina (“a thorn, a prickle”), in allusion to its pointed crystals.
From Middle English spinel, from Old English spinel (“spindle; the amount of yard on a spindle”), whence also the usual modern form, English spindle.
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Forms
plural: spinelsWord family
6 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable