Word
quartz
US/ˈkwɔɹts/
UK/kwˈɔːts/
Definitions
01the mineral
n. a hard, clear or coloured mineral found in many rocks and used in making watches and glass.
n. the most abundant mineral on the earth's surface, consisting of silicon dioxide. It is frequently used in horology and electronics due to its piezoelectric properties.
“The beach was covered in tiny white grains of quartz and sand.”
“Geologists identified the specimen as rose quartz, noting the characteristic pink hue caused by trace amounts of titanium and manganese within the crystal lattice.”
02illegal drug
n. a slang name for the illegal drug crystal meth.
n. a slang term for methamphetamine hydrochloride, specifically in its crystalline form.
“The police warned the community about the dangers of quartz and other street drugs.”
“Undercover officers were investigating a local distribution network dealing primarily in quartz and other synthetic stimulants.”
Slang
Usage
Used as an uncountable noun in this context.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specific slang term; learners should be aware of it for comprehension but avoid using it in any formal or standard social context.
Real-World Examples
“Around 95% were made from flint, while the remaining 5% were produced from quartzite and quartz pebbles.” Etymology
From German Quarz, from Middle High German (Central East German) quarz, twarc, from a West Slavic language [compare Polish twardy (“hard”), Czech tvrdý (“hard”)], from Proto-Slavic tvьrdъ ultimately from Proto-Indo-European twerH- (“to enclose, grab”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/quartz