chalcedony

[ kal-sed-n-ee, kal-suh-doh-nee ]
/ kælˈsɛd n i, ˈkæl səˌdoʊ ni /

noun, plural chal·ced·o·nies.

a microcrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, often milky or grayish.

Origin of chalcedony

1275–1325; Middle English calcedonie < Late Latin chalcēdōnius (Vulgate, Rev. XIX, 19), equivalent to chalcēdōn- (< Greek chalkēdṓn chalcedony, identified by Saint Jerome with Chalcedon, the city) + -ius -ious

OTHER WORDS FROM chalcedony

chal·ce·don·ic [kal-si-don-ik] /ˌkæl sɪˈdɒn ɪk/, chal·ced·o·nous, adjective

Words nearby chalcedony

chalasia, chalaza, chalazion, chalcanthite, chalcedon, chalcedony, chalcid, chalcidfly, chalcidice, chalcidicum, chalcis

Example sentences from the Web for chalcedony

British Dictionary definitions for chalcedony

chalcedony
/ (kælˈsɛdənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

a microcrystalline often greyish form of quartz with crystals arranged in parallel fibres: a gemstone. Formula: SiO 2

Derived forms of chalcedony

chalcedonic (ˌkælsɪˈdɒnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for chalcedony

C15: from Late Latin chalcēdōnius, from Greek khalkēdōn a precious stone (Revelation 21:19), perhaps named after Khalkēdōn Chalcedon, town in Asia Minor

Scientific definitions for chalcedony

chalcedony
[ kăl-sĕd′n-ē ]

A type of quartz that has a waxy luster and varies from transparent to translucent. It is usually white, pale-blue, gray, brown, or black and is often found as a lining in cavities. Agate, flint, and onyx are forms of chalcedony. Chemical formula: SiO2.