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tourmaline
[ toor-muh-lin, -leen ]
noun
- any of a group of silicate minerals of complex composition, containing boron, aluminum, etc., usually black but having various colored, transparent varieties used as gems.
tourmaline
/ ˌtʊəməˈlɪnɪk; ˈtʊəməˌliːn /
noun
- any of a group of hard glassy minerals of variable colour consisting of complex borosilicates of aluminium with quantities of lithium, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium in hexagonal crystalline form: used in optical and electrical equipment and in jewellery
tourmaline
/ tr′mə-lĭn,-lēn′ /
- Any of several minerals having the general chemical formula (Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Al,Li) 3 Al 6 (BO 3 ) 3 Si 6 O 18 (OH) 4 . Tourmaline occurs in many different translucent colors, usually in crystals shaped like 3-, 6-, or 9-sided prisms. It occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially in pegmatites.
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Derived Forms
- tourmalinic, adjective
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Other Words From
- tour·ma·lin·ic [t, oo, r-m, uh, -, lin, -ik], adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of tourmaline1
1750–60; earlier tourmalin < German Turmalin, ultimately < Sinhalese tōramalliya “carnelian”; -in 2
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Word History and Origins
Origin of tourmaline1
C18: from German Turmalin, from Sinhalese toramalli carnelian
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Example Sentences
A reddish granitic stone, composed of quartz, felspar, and tourmaline.
From Project Gutenberg
It is true, others before him had noted that substances like tourmaline possessed electrical properties.
From Project Gutenberg
He showed that the electricity of tourmaline decreases rapidly from the summits or poles toward the middle of the crystal.
From Project Gutenberg
Of these minerals, beryl, garnet and tourmaline are the most abundant.
From Project Gutenberg
The locket was made of tourmaline, which has mysterious properties.
From Project Gutenberg
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