beryl

¹

[ ber-uhl ]

noun

1. a mineral, beryllium aluminum silicate, Be 3 Al 2 Si 6 O 18 , usually green, but also blue, rose, white, and golden, and both opaque and transparent, the latter variety including the gems emerald and aquamarine: the principal ore of beryllium.

Beryl

²

[ ber-il ]

noun

1. a first name.

beryl

/ ˈbɛrɪl /

noun

1. a white, blue, yellow, green, or pink mineral, found in coarse granites and igneous rocks. It is a source of beryllium and is sometimes used as a gemstone; the green variety is emerald, the blue is aquamarine. Composition: beryllium aluminium silicate. Formula: Be 3 Al 2 Si 6 O 18 . Crystal structure: hexagonal

beryl

/ bĕr′əl /

1. A usually green or bluish-green hexagonal mineral occurring as transparent to translucent prisms in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Transparent varieties, such as emeralds and aquamarine, are valued as gems. Beryl is the main source of the element beryllium. Chemical formula: Be 3 Al 2 Si 6 O 18 .

Derived Forms

• ˈberyline, adjective

Other Words From

• ber·yl·ine [ber, -, uh, -lin, -lahyn], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beryl¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English beril, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin bērillus, from Latin bēryllus, from Greek bḗryllos, bērýllion, from Prakrit veruḷiya (compare Sanskrit vaiḍūrya ), from Pali veḷuriya, originally referring to white beryl or quartz, of uncertain Dravidian origin, perhaps after Belur, Karnataka, where the mineral was mined (akin to Kannada biḷi “white” + ūru “habitation, town”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of beryl¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin bēryllus , from Greek bērullos , of Indic origin

Example Sentences

If the quartz can’t scratch the specimen, it might be beryl or corundum, which are harder than quartz.

From Scientific American

One of the mightiest of the stones on display at the museum is a four-foot-tall, 7,756-pound hunk of grayish-green rock called beryl, from which come emeralds as well as beryllium.

From New York Times

Oxford County, they learned, was a mining center famous for its tourmaline, quartz and beryl.

From New York Times

The Massachusetts couple became interested in the local mining history and bought a tract that included the Bumpus Mine, which had produced feldspar and the gemstone beryl.

From Washington Times

The ice-blue mineral, which, like emerald, is part of the beryl family, gets its color from traces of iron; it is among the hardest stones, resulting in larger, flawlessly clear crystal formations.

From New York Times

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive

More About Beryl

What does beryl mean?

Beryl is a mineral whose transparent varieties are used as gemstones. Both emerald and aquamarine are varieties of beryl.

Beryl gems occur in a variety of colors, including green (emerald), green-blue (aquamarine), yellow (heliodor), and pink (morganite).

Beryl is sometimes considered an alternate birthstone for the month of November, and it is associated with the zodiac sign Scorpio.

Beryl is the main source of the element beryllium, which is used to make alloys.

Example: The most popular form of beryl is the radiant emerald.

Where does beryl come from?

The first records of the word beryl come from around 1300. It comes via the Middle English beril, from the Latin bēryllus, from the Greek bḗryllos. It is ultimately of Indic origin.

In terms of mineral composition, beryl is a beryllium aluminum silicate. It is found in both igneous and metamorphic rocks. Pure beryl is colorless—it’s color is determined by the presence of certain impurities. For example, the variety of beryl that we know as the emerald includes chromium, giving it a brilliant green coloring.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to beryl?

• beryline (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with beryl? 

• beryllium

What are some words that often get used in discussing beryl?

• mineral
• gem
• gemstone
• stone
• precious
• emerald
• aquamarine

How is beryl used in real life?

Varieties of beryl include the well-known gems emerald and aquamarine. Beryl is also the main source of the element beryllium.

#MineralMonday: #Aquamarine, is one of the gemstone varieties of the mineral beryl. Beryllium was identified as one of 23 "critical minerals" by @USGS & is used extensively in aerospace, computer, defense, medical, nuclear, & telecommunications industries. Photo: Allan Young. pic.twitter.com/AlLOCCjW3N

— Bureau of Land Management – Eastern States (@BLM_ES) March 19, 2018

💖💖Morganite is the pink to orange-pink variety of beryl, a mineral that includes emerald and aquamarine.💖💖 pic.twitter.com/Xw1DcfG0R3

— Princess Bride Diamonds (@PBrideDiamonds) January 19, 2020

A 350 carat aquamarine beryl crystal from Nigeria. Would make an excellent carving piece pic.twitter.com/x3PJapW2Ew

— Fossil Locator (@FossilLocator) June 27, 2021

 

 

Try using beryl!

True or False?

Pure beryl is colorless.