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

It was promptly rejected by Judge Beryl Howell, who is overseeing the trials of several defendants charged with violently trespassing on federal grounds in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

From Salon

After Beryl weakened, there were only four named storms, and no major hurricanes, until Helene became a tropical storm on 24 September.

From BBC

“Storms like Beryl, Helene, and Milton all strengthened from fairly weak hurricanes into major hurricanes within 12 hours or less, as they travelled over unnaturally warm ocean waters.”

From BBC

On 2 July, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category five hurricane to form in the Atlantic on records going back to 1920.

From BBC

Along with the record-breaking Hurricane Beryl, it is the second Category 5 hurricane this season.

From Salon

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive