Spinel

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spinel \Spi*nel"\, Spinelle \Spi*nelle"\, n. [F. spinelle, or
     LL. spinellus, perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in
     allusion to its pointed crystals.] (Min.)
     A mineral occuring in octahedrons of great hardness and
     various colors, as red, green, blue, brown, and black, the
     red variety being the gem spinel ruby. It consist essentially


     of alumina and magnesia, but commonly contains iron and
     sometimes also chromium.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The spinel group includes spinel proper, also
           magnetite, chromite, franklinite, gahnite, etc., all of
           which may be regarded as composed of a sesquioxide and
           a protoxide in equal proportions.
           [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spinel \Spin"el\, n.
     Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle;
     unwrought inkle. --Knight.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spinel
       n : a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium
           and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as
           gemstones