Word
amethyst
US/ˈæmɪθɪst/
UK/ˈæmɪθˌɪst/
Definition
n. a purple stone that is used in jewelry. It is a type of quartz that can range from a light lavender to a deep violet color.
n. a violet or purple variety of quartz, often used as a gemstone. The coloration is typically attributed to irradiation, impurities of iron, and the presence of trace elements.
Examples
“She wore a beautiful ring with a large amethyst.”
“The museum's mineral collection features a massive geode lined with deep purple amethyst crystals.”
“While historically ranked among the most precious gemstones, the discovery of large deposits in Brazil during the nineteenth century made amethyst significantly more accessible for contemporary jewelry design.”
Examples
simple
“She wore a beautiful ring with a large amethyst.”
contextual
“The museum's mineral collection features a massive geode lined with deep purple amethyst crystals.”
complex
“While historically ranked among the most precious gemstones, the discovery of large deposits in Brazil during the nineteenth century made amethyst significantly more accessible for contemporary jewelry design.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the mineral or color; countable when referring to individual gemstones or specific shades.
Etymology
From the gemstone amethyst.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/amethyst