Zircon

2 definitions found

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

  Zircon \Zir"con\, n. [F., the same word as jargon. See {Jargon}
     a variety of zircon.]
     1. (Min.) A mineral consisting predominantly of zirconium
        silicate ({Zr2SiO4}) occurring in tetragonal crystals,
        usually of a brown or gray color. It consists of silica
        and zirconia. A red variety, used as a gem, is called


        {hyacinth}. Colorless, pale-yellow or smoky-brown
        varieties from Ceylon are called {jargon}.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. an imitation gemstone made of {cubic zirconia}.
        [PJC]
  
     {Zircon syenite}, a coarse-grained syenite containing zircon
        crystals and often also elaeolite. It is largely developed
        in Southern Norway.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  zircon
       n : a common mineral occurring in small crystals; chief source
           of zirconium; used as a refractory when opaque and as a
           gem when transparent [syn: {zirconium silicate}]