What does "opal" mean?
A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO₂·nH₂O.
Opal
/ˈoʊpəl/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO₂·nH₂O.
- Grammar: opal is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: chameleon, confetti, diamond, emerald.
- Usage evidence: "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara."
How to use "opal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "opal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "opal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "opal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "opal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "opal" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chameleon" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "opal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO₂·nH₂O.
"Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are […] . (Common gem materials not addressed in this article include amber, amethyst, chalcedony, garnet, lazurite, malachite, opals, peridot, rhodonite, spinel, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.)"
- 2 a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones wordnet
- 3 A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO₂·nH₂O.; A precious gem, an iridescent gemstone found in the opal-silica mineral substrate (potch)
- 4 The colour of opal: any shade of blue with bright flecks of other colours, such as white, yellow, and red.
"The witchery of the dawn turned the grey river-reaches to purple, gold, and opal; and it was as though the lumbering dhoni crept across the splendors of a new heaven."
- 5 A colloquial name used in molecular biology referring to a particular stop codon sequence, "UGA."
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- 6 Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Nesolycaena.
Proper Noun
- 1 A unisex given name from English from the precious stone, invented in the nineteenth century.
"Perhaps to console herself for the bad luck she had already suffered, in a back corner of South Sherbrooke Township - or perhaps to make up, ahead of time, for a lack of motherly feelings - she gave the girls the fanciest names she could think of: Opal Violet, Dawn Rose, and Bonnie Hope."
- 2 A unisex given name from English from the precious stone, invented in the nineteenth century.; A female given name from English from the precious stone, invented in the nineteenth century.
- 3 A unisex given name from English from the precious stone, invented in the nineteenth century.; A male given name from English from the precious stone, invented in the nineteenth century. rare
- 4 A type of petrol made by British Petroleum designed to be unable to be used for petrol sniffing. Australia
"Halton says, for example, that if there are bylaws that prohibit trafficking in fuel in a community where the non-sniffable petrol, Opal, had been introduced it would be the job of the local police to enforce the law. Her department, on the other hand, was dealing with the issue of the availability of Opal."
- 5 A hamlet in Alberta, Canada.
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- 6 A census-designated place in Virginia.
- 7 A town in Wyoming.
Example
""Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "opal"?
Common synonyms include: chameleon, confetti, diamond, emerald, gemstone, harlequin.
How do you use "opal" in a sentence?
"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara."
How do you pronounce "opal"?
Pronounced /ˈoʊpəl/.
Etymology
In Florio’s A World of Words 1598 as opale, from French opale, from Latin opalus, from Byzantine Greek ὀπάλλιος (opállios), from Sanskrit उपल (upala, “gem, stone”), from उपरि (upári, “the upper millstone”). Distantly related to over.