agate Hear it!

agate definition

ag·ate (ag′it)

noun

  1. a hard semiprecious stone, a variety of chalcedony, with striped or clouded coloring
  2. any of various tools having agate parts, as a burnishing instrument with a tip of agate
  3. a little ball made of this stone or of glass, used in playing marbles
  4. a former small size of printing type, 5 points

Etymology: ME agaten < OFr agate < ML < L achates < Gr achatēs < ?

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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