Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

cipolin

noun
cipo·​lin | \ ˈsipələ̇n, ¦sēpə¦laⁿ\
variants: or cipollino \ ˌchēpəˈlē(ˌ)nō \
plural -s

Definition of cipolin

: a light-colored Roman marble containing layers of micaceous minerals and abundant silicates

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for cipolin

borrowed from French & Italian; French cipolin, cipollin, borrowed from Italian (marmo) cipollino, from cipollino, masculine variant of cipollina, diminutive of cipolla “onion”; so called because the marble's wavy veins suggest the layers of an onion

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about cipolin

Statistics for cipolin

Look-up Popularity

Comments on cipolin

What made you want to look up cipolin? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

purview

Listen to the pronounciation of purview

the range of authority or knowledge

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Original Meanings Quiz

  • rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor
  • Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games