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Several varieties of the mineral beryl are valued as gemstones: aquamarine (pale blue-green); emerald (deep green); heliodor (golden yellow); and morganite (pink). Beryl consists of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum of great hardness, and is a commercial source of beryllium. Before 1925 beryl was used only as a gemstone, but since then many important uses have been found for beryllium (in nuclear reactors, space vehicles, and X-ray tubes). No large deposits have been found, and most production is a by-product of the mining of feldspar and mica. Brazil is a major producer; others producers include Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, and the USA.

Examples of beryl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Mariana Prates and Helena Sicupira of Prasi decided to rework the ear of wheat, a traditional Ukrainian motif representing property, abundance and fertility, in two-tone gold brooch, above, with yellow beryl and blue indicolite tourmaline. — Kate Matthams, Forbes, 18 July 2022 The jewels take the form of solitaire rings with pear- or heart-cut stones, multi-stranded necklaces and bracelets with large stones of yellow beryl. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 June 2022 One-of-a-kind jewels by L.A.-based designer Irene Neuwirth, set with gemstones that included beryl, aquamarine, topaz, tourmalines and fire opals, proved a perfect match with her sumptuous gown. — Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2022 France's King Charles V, meanwhile, is thought to have worn beryl spectacles in the 14th century. — CNN, 14 Sep. 2021 The collection also includes violet and plum spinels, Paraíba tourmalines, violet tanzanite, sunflower-yellow beryl. — Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 27 Aug. 2021 Pom Pom earrings of intriguingly pale green beryl surrounded by light sapphires. — Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 14 Mar. 2019 Among the new creations is the Hopi hummingbird ring in diamonds and yellow sapphires with emerald eyes and a large beryl. — Vogue, 26 Jan. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'beryl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for beryl

Middle English beril, berille "beryl, a kind of crystal," borrowed from Anglo-French beril, borrowed from Latin bēryllus, borrowed from Greek bḗryllos, back-formation from bērýllion "beryl," borrowed from Prakrit veruḷiya, metathesized form of Pali veḷuriya , perhaps from Vēḷur, Vēḷūr (modern Belur) town in Karnataka, southern India

Note: For the Indo-Aryan etymology, see Alfred Master, "Indo-Aryan and Dravidian," Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, vol. 11, no. 2 (1944), pp. 304-07.

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