dictionary help| beryl | medical dictionary |
<chemical>
A mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much beauty. It occurs in hexagonal prisms, commonly of a green or bluish green colour, but also yellow, pink, and white. It is a silicate of aluminium and glucinum (beryllium). The aquamarine is a transparent, sea-green variety used as a gem. The emerald is another variety highly prized in jewelry, and distinguished by its deep colour, which is probably due to the presence of a little oxide of chromium.
Origin: F. Beryl, OF. Beril, L. Beryllus, Gr, prob. Fr. Skr. Vaidrya. Cf. Brilliant.
(01 Mar 1998)
Bertrand Russell, Bert Stroud, berycoid < Prev | Next > berylliosis, beryllium, beryllium granuloma
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