Opal Definition
ōpəl
opals
noun
A mineral of hydrated silica.
American Heritage
An amorphous, iridescent mineral, SiO2n H2O, of various colors, often used as a gem; hydrous silicon oxide.
Webster's New World
A gemstone made of this mineral, noted for its rich iridescence.
American Heritage
(biology, genetics, biochemistry) A colloquial name used in molecular biology referring to a particular stop codon sequence, "UGA."
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
pronoun
A female given name from the precious stone, invented in the nineteenth century.
Wiktionary
(Australia) A type of petrol made by British Petroleum designed to be unable to be used for petrol sniffing.[Developed 2005.]
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Opal
Noun
Singular:
opal
Plural:
opalsOrigin of Opal
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Middle English opalus from Latin alteration of Greek opallios probably from Sanskrit upalaḥ from variant of upara- lower from upa below upo in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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In Florio's A World of Words 1598 as opale, from French opale, from Latin opalus, from Byzantine Greek ὀπάλλιος (opallios), from Sanskrit उपल (upala, “gem", “stone").
From Wiktionary
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