[syn: Jerusalem artichoke, girasol, Jerusalem artichoke sunflower, Helianthus tuberosus]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Girasole \Gir"a*sole\ Girasol \Gir"a*sol\, n. [It. girasole, or
F. girasol, fr. L. gyrare to turn around + sol sun.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Bot.) See Heliotrope. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
2. (Min.) A variety of opal which is usually milk white,
bluish white, or sky blue; but in a bright light it
reflects a reddish color.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Opal \O"pal\, n. [L. opalus: cf. Gr. ?, Skr. upala a rock,
stone, precious stone: cf. F. opale.] (Min.)
A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to
quartz in hardness and specific gravity.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The precious opal presents a peculiar play of colors
of delicate tints, and is highly esteemed as a gem. One
kind, with a varied play of color in a reddish ground,
is called the harlequin opal. The fire opal has
colors like the red and yellow of flame. Common opal
has a milky appearance. Menilite is a brown impure
variety, occurring in concretions at Menilmontant, near
Paris. Other varieties are cacholong, girasol,
hyalite, and geyserite.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
girasol
n 1: an opal with flaming orange and yellow and red colors [syn:
fire opal, girasol]
2: tall perennial with hairy stems and leaves; widely cultivated
for its large irregular edible tubers [syn: Jerusalem
artichoke, girasol, Jerusalem artichoke sunflower,
Helianthus tuberosus]