Definition

Noun: * A type of opal gemstone: A "fire opal" is a variety of opal characterized by its vibrant body color, which ranges from yellow and orange to bright red. Unlike other opals, its primary value often comes from this fiery color rather than a prominent "play-of-color" (internal flashes of spectral colors).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The jeweler showed her a stunning fire opal set in a gold ring.
  • Fire opals are often mined in Mexico.
  • The pendant contained a brilliant orange fire opal that seemed to glow from within.

Advanced Usage

• As a descriptor: The term can be used attributively to describe other items with similar coloring.
  • She wore a dress in a beautiful fire opal hue.

Variants and Related Words

• Girasol (n): A transparent or translucent fire opal, often with a reddish glow.
• Precious opal (n): An opal that exhibits a play-of-color, which is a different, though sometimes overlapping, category from fire opal.
• Common opal (n): Opal that lacks both a play-of-color and the vivid body color of fire opal.

Synonyms

• Mexican opal: A common synonym, as Mexico is a primary source.
• Sun opal: A poetic synonym referencing its warm, sun-like colors.

Related Phrases

• Play-of-color (n): The optical phenomenon of spectral colors flashing from within a gemstone, typical of precious opal. A fire opal may or may not display this.
  • The fire opal had a rich orange body color with only a slight play-of-color.

Noun

1. an opal with flaming orange and yellow and red colors