chrysoprase

noun

chrys·​o·​prase ˈkri-sə-ˌprāz 

: an apple-green chalcedony valued as a gem

Examples of chrysoprase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The chrysoprase cabochons on a necklace from the house’s 2025 high-jewelry collection demonstrate their enduringly graceful symmetry. —Jill Newman, Robb Report, 29 June 2025

One side sparkles brightly with color — a cheerful expression of rebirth and springtime, featuring stones like chrysoprase, mother-of-pearl and rhodonite in delectable pastel hues. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 23 May 2025

The dials are vivid and unusual, but thoughtfully paired: jade with pink opal, lapis with lemon chrysoprase and turquoise with coral. —Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Others, like chrysoprase, green chalcedony, and malachite, are perhaps less so. —Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 21 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crisopace, crisopassus, crissoprassus, borrowed from Latin chrȳsoprasos, chrȳsoprasum, borrowed from Greek chrȳsóprasson, from chrȳso- chryso- + -prasos, derivative of práson "leek," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: Both Greek práson and Latin porrum "leek" can be taken back to a zero-grade *pr̥so-, but given the limited distribution of the etymon a loan from a Mediterranean language is more likely than Indo-European descent.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chrysoprase

• aldolase
• alleyways
• amylase
• anaphase
• anhydrase
• anyways
• arginase
• cabarets
• carriageways
• castaways
• catalase
• cellulase