turmalin

A geologist holds a piece of turmalin up to the light.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mineral: "turmalin" is a crystalline boron silicate mineral that occurs in a wide variety of colors, often used as a gemstone. It is also commonly spelled "tourmaline."

Usage Examples

• (A gemstone made from the mineral.)
• (The mineral in its natural state.)

Advanced Usage

• "turmalin crystal": a naturally occurring, geometrically shaped specimen of the mineral.

  • The museum's collection includes a large, pink turmalin crystal from Brazil. (A specimen prized for its color and form.)

• "turmalin in thin section": a term used in geology to describe the mineral viewed under a microscope.

  • Under polarized light, turmalin in thin section shows distinctive pleochroism. (A property of the mineral observed in laboratory analysis.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tourmaline (n): the more common and standard spelling of the same mineral.

  • Tourmaline is often used in jewelry due to its hardness and color range. (The preferred spelling in modern English.)

• Tourmalinized (adj): describes rock that has been altered or enriched by turmalin.

  • The granite was tourmalinized by hydrothermal fluids. (The rock was transformed by mineral-bearing solutions.)

Synonyms

• Gemstone: a precious or semi-precious stone, though this is a broader category.
• Crystalline mineral: a general term for naturally occurring, solid, inorganic substances with a crystal structure.

Related Idioms

• "As colorful as turmalin": a poetic or informal comparison meaning very diverse or multicolored.
  • Her wardrobe is as colorful as turmalin, with every shade imaginable. (A vivid, varied collection.)

Notes on Spelling

• "Turmalin" is a less common variant of "tourmaline." In modern dictionaries and gemology, "tourmaline" is the standard spelling. The word originates from the Sinhalese word (තුරමලි), meaning "mixed gemstone," because early traders found it in mixed gravel deposits.