spinel

spi·nel

noun \spə-ˈnel\

Definition of SPINEL

1

: a hard crystalline mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum that varies from colorless to ruby red to black and is used as a gem

2

: any of a group of minerals that are essentially oxides of magnesium, ferrous iron, zinc, or manganese

Variants of SPINEL

spi·nel or spi·nelle \spə-ˈnel\

Origin of SPINEL

Italian spinella, diminutive of spina thorn, from Latin

First Known Use: 1528

Rhymes with SPINEL

band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell

spinel

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mineral composed of magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAlO). Also called magnesia spinel, its colour, due to various impurities, ranges from blood-red to blue, green, brown, and colourless. Spinel is found in basic igneous rocks, granite pegmatites, and contact metamorphic limestone deposits, often in association with corundum. Synthetic spinel has been manufactured since the early 20th century for use as imitation gem stones. Spinel may also refer more broadly to any of various mineral oxides of magnesium, iron, zinc, or manganese in combination with aluminum, chromium, or iron.