agate

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

an impure form of quartz consisting of banded chalcedony; used as a gemstone and for making mortars and pestles

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Agate \A*gate"\, adv. [Pref. a- on + gate way.] On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate. [Obs.] --Cotgrave. [1913 Webster]

Agate \Ag"ate\, n. [F. agate, It. agata, L. achates, fr. Gr. ?.]

1.(Min.) A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds. [1913 Webster]

Note: The fortification agate, or Scotch pebble, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc., are familiar varieties. [1913 Webster]

2.(Print.) A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby. [1913 Webster]

3.A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4.A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing. [1913 Webster]

Chalcedony \Chal*ced"o*ny\ (k[a^]l*s[e^]d"[-o]*n[y^] or k[a^]l"s[-e]*d[-o]*n[y^]; 277), n.; pl. Chalcedonies (-n[i^]z). [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. CHalkhdw`n Chalcedon, a town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium: cf. calc['e]doine, OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.] (Min.) A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax. [Written also calcedony.] [1913 Webster]

Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it is called agate; and if by reason of the thickness, color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for being carved into cameos, it is called onyx. Chrysoprase is green chalcedony; carnelian, a flesh red, and sard, a brownish red variety. [1913 Webster]