quartz

[kwawrts]

noun

1. one of the commonest minerals, silicon dioxide, SiO 2 , having many varieties that differ in color, luster, etc., and occurring either in masses (as agate, bloodstone, chalcedony, jasper, etc.) or in crystals (as rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, etc.): the chief constituent of sand and sandstone, and an important constituent of many other rocks. It is piezoelectric and used to control the frequencies of radio transmitters.

quartz

/ kwɔːts /

noun

1. a colourless mineral often tinted by impurities, found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It is used in the manufacture of glass, abrasives, and cement, and also as a gemstone; the violet-purple variety is amethyst, the brown variety is cairngorm, the yellow variety is citrine, and the pink variety is rose quartz. Composition: silicon dioxide. Formula: SiO 2 . Crystal structure: hexagonal

2. short for quartz glass

quartz

1. A hard, transparent trigonal mineral that, after feldspar, is the most common mineral on the surface of the Earth. It occurs as a component of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks as well as in a variety of other forms such as rock crystal, flint, and agate. Some crystalline forms, such as amethyst, are considered gemstones. Chemical formula: SiO ₂ .

Other Word Forms

• quartzose adjective
• quartzous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quartz¹

First recorded in 1750–60, quartz is from the German word Quarz

Word History and Origins

Origin of quartz¹

C18: from German Quarz, of Slavic origin

Example Sentences

About 20 dogs lay on yoga mats with their owners or they milled about the room as the free “relaxation concert” began, the sounds of crystal quartz and Tibetan brass bowls commingling with intermittent barking.

From Los Angeles Times

It's deep inside a quartz mountain in Bodø, within the Arctic Circle.

From BBC

As Washington made his way into the Grand Théâtre Lumière, he looked pleasantly confused when a photographer caught his attention by waving a shiny quartz stone at him.

From Los Angeles Times

"See here!" says Mr Olafsson pointing to a seam of white quartz and a thin dark line.

From BBC

It includes a history of the building to start, followed by a live performance, on 22 quartz crystal singing bowls, by a sound healing artist.

From Los Angeles Times