quartz

noun

ˈkwȯrts 

1

: a mineral consisting of silicon dioxide occurring in colorless and transparent or colored hexagonal crystals or in crystalline masses

2

: a quartz crystal that when placed in an electric field oscillates at a constant frequency and is used to control devices which require precise regulation

a quartz watch

quartzose

ˈkwȯrt-ˌsōs 

adjective

Examples of quartz in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Waterproof surfaces like quartz or marble handle spills and splashes without staining. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

Waterproof countertops like quartz or marble wipe clean in seconds. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

More than a dozen treatment rooms at Six Senses London showcase the range of services from traditional massage to flotation pods and quartz crystal beds. — Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Instead, choose pebble or quartz finishes for pools, natural stone for decking, and textured tiles for hardscaping. — Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

German Quarz

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing quartz

• fused quartz
• quartz glass
• quartz heater
• quartz-iodine lamp
• smoky quartz

Rhymes for quartz

• courts
• forts
• morts
• portes
• ports
• quarts
• schwarz
• shorts
• snorts
• sorts
• sports
• thwarts

Kids Definition

quartz

noun

ˈkwȯ(ə)rts 

: a common mineral consisting of silicon dioxide that is often found in the form of colorless transparent crystals but is sometimes (as in amethysts, agates, and jaspers) brightly colored

Medical Definition

quartz

noun

ˈkwȯ(ə)rts 

: a mineral SiO₂ consisting of a silica that occurs in colorless and transparent or colored hexagonal crystals and also in crystalline masses