chrysoberyl

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a very hard beryllium aluminium oxide mineral, commonly yellow to green and used as a gemstone

   The collector examined a transparent yellow-green chrysoberyl under the lamp.

2. 2
   noun

   a gemstone of this mineral, whose notable varieties include colour-changing alexandrite and chatoyant cat's-eye

   The ring held a chrysoberyl that appeared greener in daylight than by candlelight.

From Latin chrysoberyllus and Greek khrysoberyllos, 'gold beryl,' formed from chrysos, 'gold,' + beryllos, 'beryl.' Despite the historical name, chrysoberyl is a distinct beryllium aluminium oxide mineral, not a variety of beryl.

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