opal
noun
\
Definition of opal
: a usually amorphous mineral that is a hydrated silica softer and less dense than quartz and typically with definite and often marked iridescent play of colors and is used especially as a gem
Examples of opal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To this day, 70 percent of the world's opals are mined around Coober Pedy. — Ken Jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "Inside Coober Pedy, Australia's Underground Town," 14 May 2018 The palette is made up of three shades: a golden peach (Gammaray), a metallic opal (Helix), and lavender pink (Roseshock). — Jessica Prince Erlich, The Cut, "The 15 Best Highlighters," 11 May 2018 The structure resembles that of tightly packed silica spheres in opal, which diffract light and produce the gemstone’s coveted color. — Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, "Scientists uncover the secret behind shimmering seaweed," 13 Apr. 2018 Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine Virgin Valley, Nevada Some say opal can enhance cosmic consciousness and insight. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "Where to Find Your Own Crystals in the Wilds of the United States," 30 Mar. 2018 Mermaid, opal, prism, unicorn — after a while, all the colorful hair looks start to blend together into one big soupy rainbow. — Erika Stalder, refinery29.com, ""Baby Rainbow" Hair Is The Coolest Festival Trend We've Seen," 22 Mar. 2018 Jewelry is made from recycled silver and stones, such as moody opals, sapphires, white topaz and labradorite. — Linda Jerkins, ajc, "Southern Made: 3 artists at 3-day craft show," 7 Mar. 2018 Chameleon skin, butterfly wings and opals all contain natural colloidal crystals that allow them to change color; their particles have evolved to be able to modulate the space between them and shift themselves into different configurations. — Kastalia Medrano, Newsweek, "New Class of Light-Bending Material Spun With DNA and Gold Nanoparticles Can Achieve First Real-Life Invisibility Cloak," 19 Jan. 2018 Ursula has managed to translate natural elements such as hot springs, wood grain, black opals, and sunflowers into hair colors for her clients. — Kelsi Zimmerman, Allure, "This Colorist Creates Nature-Inspired Hair Colors," 10 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for opal
opal
noun
English Language Learners Definition of opal
: a white or clear stone that reflects changing colors and that is used in jewelry
See the full definition for opal in the English Language Learners Dictionary
opal
noun
\
Kids Definition of opal
: a mineral with soft changeable colors that is used as a gem
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