jasper
n. C / Un. a type of hard, smooth stone that is usually red, yellow, or brown. It is often used to make jewelry or decorations because it looks beautiful when polished.
n. an opaque, impure variety of silica, typically red, yellow, brown, or green in color. It is a microcrystalline form of quartz used primarily as a gemstone or for ornamental purposes.
She wore a necklace made of polished red jasper.
The geologist identified the smooth, striped stone found on the beach as a piece of jasper.
The ancient artisans favored jasper for its durability and rich hues, often carving it into intricate seals and amulets that have survived for millennia in remarkably good condition.
A name given to one of the Magi in a medieval European cult, from Biblical Hebrew גִּזְבָּר (gizbar), ultimately from Old Median *ganǰabarah; see it for more.
Uncountable when referring to the mineral in general; countable when referring to specific varieties or individual stones.