aventurine

(ə venc̸hə rin)

noun

  1. a kind of glass flecked with spangles, as from copper filings or bits of chromic oxide
  2. a variety of chert that contains sparkling bits of mica, hematite, etc.

Origin: Fr < It (vetro) avventurino, aventurine (glass): so named from resembling the mineral avventurina (< avventura, chance), so named from its rarity: see adventure

See aventurine in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. An opaque or semitranslucent brown glass flecked with small metallic particles, often of copper or chromic oxide.
  2. Any of several varieties of quartz or feldspar flecked with particles of mica, hematite, or other materials. Also called sunstone.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from aventure, accident (so called because of its accidental discovery or the randomness of inclusions in it); see adventure

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Related Forms:

  • a·venˈtu·rineˌ adjective

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