opaline

[ oh-puh-lin, -leen, -lahyn ]

adjective

1. of or like opal; opalescent.

opaline

/ ˈəʊpəˌlaɪn /

adjective

1. opalescent

noun

1. an opaque or semiopaque whitish glass

Word History and Origins

Origin of opaline¹

First recorded in 1775–85; opal + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

An oval sapphire ringed by emerald flecks, silver spires and opaline sky, Sylvan Lake remains a Black Hills crown jewel 138 years after Theodore Reder dammed Sunday Gulch Creek to create it.

From Washington Times

The opaline burbot, delicate in its buttery sauce, gets an earthy base from local carrots spiced with caraway.

From New York Times

Driving backward while dragging a bad front wheel, Spirit gouged a trench that revealed opaline silica, a mineral that on Earth is a sure sign of life-supporting hot springs.

From Science Magazine

Instead of the traditional stark-white walls typically found in galleries, the building features travertine stone floors that contrast against opaline concrete masonry and rough wood.

From New York Times

The sleek green opaline glass tiles that form the vaulted ceiling give the sensation that you’re in a distant underwater universe.

From New York Times

Related Words

• frosted
• iridescent
• milky
• off-white