Definition of garnet
1 : a brittle and more or less transparent usually red silicate mineral that has a vitreous luster, occurs mainly in crystals but also in massive form and in grains, is found commonly in gneiss and mica schist, and is used as a semiprecious stone and as an abrasive
2 : a variable color averaging a dark red
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Recent Examples of garnet from the Web
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Set aside a few bottles of this garnet-pink wine for Thanksgiving dinner; its berry-rich aroma and cranberry tartness are tailor-made for the autumn feast: Grgich Hills Estate Rosé 2016, $25, grgich.com.
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Australia and India are major exporters of garnet sand, which is crushed to make an abrasive material used in sandblasting and by water-jet cutters.
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Burglary, Southway Drive: A jewelry box, gold cross necklace, gold-and-garnet ring and hedge clippers were stolen between 9:45-10 p.m. from a house.
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The hurricane wind resistant building has six bays and was designed to accommodate BARTON International's garnet abrasive operation.
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Lightweight gear makes panning possible even on vacation, finding gold, along with garnets and platinum—swirling in black dirt at the bottom of your plastic pan.
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South Carolina head coach Frank Martin has earned a reputation as one of the angriest coaches in college basketball with a repertoire of gesticulations and outbursts that can turn his cheeks the color of his garnet jackets.
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ORANGE STATE Céline's muff and Ivy's mandarin garnet earrings are the new black ($13,600), ivynewyork.com.
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Those garnet crystals produce one laser wavelength; the chemicals, another.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'garnet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The "Seedy" Origins of garnet
The deep-red color of this gemstone reminded the French of a red-skinned fruit. In early French the fruit was called pomme grenate, which means “seedy apple.” This later became pomegranate in English. The early French word grenate, meaning “seedy,” is the source of the adjective grenat, meaning “red like a pomegranate.” This word was then used as a noun to refer to the deep-red gemstone. When borrowed into English, grenat became garnet.
Origin and Etymology of garnet
Middle English gernet, from Anglo-French gernete, from gernet dark red, from pume gernete pomegranate
GARNET Defined for English Language Learners
garnet
playDefinition of garnet for English Language Learners
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: a dark red stone that is used in jewelry
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: a dark red color
GARNET Defined for Kids
garnet
playDefinition of garnet for Students
: a deep red mineral used as a gem
Learn More about garnet
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See words that rhyme with garnet Spanish Central: Translation of garnet Nglish: Translation of garnet for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about garnet
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