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opal Definition

opal (ōpəl)

noun

an amorphous, iridescent mineral, SiO·n HO, of various colors, often used as a gem; hydrous silicon oxide

Etymology: L opalus < Gr opallios < Sans úpalaḥ, (precious) stone

opal Synonyms

opal

n.

silica, semiprecious stone, opaline; see gem 1, jewel 1.

Types of opals include: fire, precious, noble, harlequin, black, common, resin, pitch, wood, cacholong, girasol, hyalite, geyserite, menilite.

opal Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: And now, you can can have opal in your jewelry collection on necklaces, earrings, and even charms.
  • include: Just about any kind of fake gem could be made, including fake opals.
  • buy: When Bob described buying opals by the handful in Australia.

Adjective modifier

  • black: Lightning Ridge, to the northwest, is a frontier town where the world's only source of black opal is to be found.
  • Australian: Opal After tea, the audience returned to their seats and Terry Davidson introduced Ross Chapman to talk about Australian opal.
  • inverse: Explore our research pages to see some stunning images of opal and inverse opal and to learn more about these exciting materials.
  • Mexican: In addition they offered newly available American gemstones such as Montana sapphires and Mexican fire opals.
  • precious: The common opal is often opaque and displays very little iridescence, where as the precious opal has many flashes of color.

Modifies a noun

  • polycarbonate: The opal polycarbonate diffuser is ideal for use with the range of 100mm high, self adhesive safety signs.
  • diffuser: The opal polycarbonate diffuser is ideal for use with the range of 100mm high, self adhesive safety signs.
  • detector: A Study of charm production in beauty decays with the OPAL detector at LEP.
  • glass: A brass adjustable electric table lamp with original blue opal glass shade, stamped 'W A S Benson ' to the foot.
  • lamp: To combat this problem the company introduced the opal lamp in 1921, followed by the pearl lamp in 1927.
  • light: Formats up to 6 x 9 cm can be enlarged perfectly with the 75 W opal light.

Noun used with modifier

  • fire: Other colors are the precious black opal, and the fire opal, a rich orange color.
  • pearl: Over a populated placed slightly wider diamond pearl opal pay the other.
  • diamond: Over a populated placed slightly wider diamond pearl opal pay the other.

Browse dictionary entries near opal

  1. opah
  2. opacity
  3. op-
  4. opéra comique
  5. opéra bouffe
  6. Op-Ed
  7. op. cit.
  8. op art
  9. op
  10. oozy
  1. opalescent
  2. opaline
  3. opaque
  4. opaque OXC
  5. opaque projector
  6. Opcode
  7. ope
  8. OPEC
  9. open
  10. open account