spinel

C2 Topic:Materials & Substances

US /spɪˈnɛl/ UK /spɪˈnɛl/ See IPA manual

Freq #487064

Meanings

1

noun
a hard, glassy magnesium aluminium oxide mineral that crystallizes in the cubic system and occurs in many colors

The specimen contained an octahedral spinel embedded in white marble.
2

noun
a transparent gem variety of this mineral, especially a red, pink, blue, or violet stone

The jeweler identified the crimson gem as spinel rather than ruby.
3

noun
mineralogy and materials science: any mineral or synthetic crystalline material having the characteristic spinel structure

Researchers produced a cobalt spinel for use as an electrode material.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a hard, glassy magnesium... magnesium aluminate

2 noun · a transparent gem variety... spinel gemstonebalas ruby

3 noun · mineralogy and materials... spinel-structure material

Word family

Forms spinels

Derived forms chlorospinelcuprospinelthiospinel

Related forms rubycorundumbalasgahnite

Etymology

Through French spinelle and Italian spinella, probably from Latin spina, 'thorn,' referring to the mineral's sharply pointed crystals. Red spinels were long mistaken for rubies; several famous historical 'rubies' were later identified as spinel.

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# spinel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /spɪˈnɛl/
**IPA (UK):** /spɪˈnɛl/
**Frequency rank:** 487064

## Meanings
1. a hard, glassy magnesium aluminium oxide mineral that crystallizes in the cubic system and occurs in many colors
2. a transparent gem variety of this mineral, especially a red, pink, blue, or violet stone
3. mineralogy and materials science: any mineral or synthetic crystalline material having the characteristic spinel structure

## Examples
- The specimen contained an octahedral spinel embedded in white marble.
- The jeweler identified the crimson gem as spinel rather than ruby.
- Researchers produced a cobalt spinel for use as an electrode material.

## Synonyms
- magnesium aluminate
- spinel gemstone
- balas ruby

## Derived Forms
- chlorospinel
- cuprospinel
- thiospinel

## Related Forms
- ruby
- corundum
- balas
- gahnite

## Etymology
Through French spinelle and Italian spinella, probably from Latin spina, 'thorn,' referring to the mineral's sharply pointed crystals. Red spinels were long mistaken for rubies; several famous historical 'rubies' were later identified as spinel.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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