agate

[ag-it]

noun

1. a variegated chalcedony showing curved, colored bands or other markings.

2. a playing marble made of this substance, or of glass in imitation of it.

3. Printing.,  a 5½-point type of a size between pearl and nonpareil.

agate

¹

/ ˈæɡɪt /

noun

1. 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

2. a playing marble of this quartz or resembling it

3. Also called: ruby. printing (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 5 1/ 2 point

agate

²

/ əˈɡeɪt /

adverb

1. dialect,  on the way

Agate

³

/ ˈæɡeɪt /

noun

1. 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

1. 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 Word Forms

• agatelike adjective
• agatoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agate¹

1150–1200; Middle English ac ( c ) ate, achate, agaten (compare Dutch agaat, Old Saxon agāt, Old High German agat ), apparently < Old French agathe or Italian agata (initial stress) ≪ Medieval Latin achātēs < Greek achā́tēs

Word History and Origins

Origin of agate¹

C16: via French from Latin achātēs, from Greek akhatēs

Origin of agate²

C16: _a-² + _gate³

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.

From New York Times

Each Rock Box includes a curated selection of high-quality crystals, rough rock, agates, geodes, gem collectibles and more.

From Seattle Times

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.

From Seattle Times

They came up with a wallcovering collection full of leopard prints, swirling sea agate patterns, and golden Victorian keys and dressmaking scissors.

From Seattle Times

“Now I have it. It’s a piece of agate from the Cady Mountains.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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When To Use

What is agate?

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.