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agate
[ag-it]
noun
a variegated chalcedony showing curved, colored bands or other markings.
a playing marble made of this substance, or of glass in imitation of it.
Printing.a 5½-point type of a size between pearl and nonpareil.
agate
1/ ˈæɡɪ /
noun
an impure microcrystalline form of quartz consisting of a variegated, usually banded chalcedony, used as a gemstone and in making pestles and mortars, burnishers, and polishers. Formula: SiO 2
a playing marble of this quartz or resembling it
Also called: ruby.printing (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 5 1/ 2 point
agate
2/ əˈɡɪ /
adverb
dialecton the way
Agate
3/ ˈæɡɪ /
noun
James ( Evershed ). 1877–1947, British theatre critic; drama critic for The Sunday Times (1923–47) and author of a nine-volume diary Ego (1935–49)
agate
A type of very fine-grained quartz found in various colors that are arranged in bands or in cloudy patterns. The bands form when water rich with silica enters empty spaces in rock, after which the silica comes out of solution and forms crystals, gradually filling the spaces from the outside inward. The different colors are the result of various impurities in the water.
Other 51Թ Forms
- agatelike adjective
- agatoid adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of agate1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of agate1
Origin of agate2
Example Sentences
A.J. had seen his father become obsessive before — about hunting for agate rocks or buying antique furniture — but now he was studying voter turnout data and the intricacies of the 12th Amendment.
Each Rock Box includes a curated selection of high-quality crystals, rough rock, agates, geodes, gem collectibles and more.
When I first worked with her at the AP bureau in her hometown of Philadelphia in 1981, our office handled the agate — the goal scorers, penalties, shots — for the Hershey Bears minor league hockey team.
They came up with a wallcovering collection full of leopard prints, swirling sea agate patterns, and golden Victorian keys and dressmaking scissors.
“Now I have it. It’s a piece of agate from the Cady Mountains.”
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When To Use
Agate is a variety of the mineral chalcedony (a type of quartz), specifically one with bands or stripes or other markings. It is often considered a gemstone.It can occur in a wide variety of colors, including white, yellow, red, and black.The key quality of agate is its banding, which is crystal that has formed in the rock.Agate is considered a semiprecious stone, which is a label assigned to some stones that have a lesser value than those considered precious.When used in jewelry, agate is often cut into a shape called a cabochon, which is polished but not cut into facets. When loose (not set in jewelry), they are often sold in the form of a geode or slab.Several forms of chalcedony are considered agates if they contain banding, including the gemstones onyx and sardonyx. Specific kinds of agate are named for their colors and patterns. For example, moss agate features a green pattern that resembles moss.Agate is one of the traditional birthstones for the months of May and June. It is associated with the zodiac sign Gemini.Example: I bought a beautiful yellow agate geode at the rock and crystal shop.
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