spinel

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spi·nel

also spi·nelle  (spĭ-nĕl′)
n.
1. A hard, variously colored mineral with composition MgAl2O4, having usually octahedral crystals, occurring in igneous and metamorphosed carbonate rocks, and valued as a gem. The red variety is sometimes confused with ruby.
2. Any of a group of minerals that are oxides of magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, or aluminum.

[Italian spinella, diminutive of spina, thorn (from its sharply pointed crystals), from Latin spīna.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spinel

(spɪˈnɛl)
n
1. (Minerals) any of a group of hard glassy minerals of variable colour consisting of oxides of aluminium, magnesium, chromium, iron, zinc, or manganese and occurring in the form of octahedral crystals: used as gemstones
2. (Minerals) a hard, glassy mineral composed of magnesium-aluminium oxide found in metamorphosed limestones and many basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks. Formula: MgAl2O4
[C16: from French spinelle, from Italian spinella, diminutive of spina a thorn, from Latin; so called from the shape of the crystals]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spi•nel

or spi•nelle

(spɪˈnɛl, ˈspɪn l)

n.
1. any of a group of minerals composed of oxides of metals (magnesium, aluminum, iron, zinc, manganese, etc.).
2. a mineral of this group, magnesium aluminum oxide, MgAl2O4, having octahedral crystals: some varieties are used as gems.
[1520–30; < French spinelle < Italian spinella <spin(a) thorn]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.spinel - a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as gemstones
atomic number 12, magnesium, Mg - a light silver-white ductile bivalent metallic element; in pure form it burns with brilliant white flame; occurs naturally only in combination (as in magnesite and dolomite and carnallite and spinel and olivine)
mineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
ruby spinel, spinel ruby - a spinel used as a gemstone (usually dark red)
Ceylonite, pleonaste - a dark-colored spinel containing iron
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
References in periodicals archive ?
Les gisements de rubis et de spinelle rouge de la Ceinture Metamorphique Neoproterozoique Mozambicaine.
Serra, William Scott Spinelle, Victoria Stewart, Erik N.
Warner: Wilma Maciel, Kyrenia Saavedra, Mike Spinelle