spinel

noun

spi·nel | \ spə-ˈnel

variants: or spinelle

Definition of spinel

1 : a hard crystalline mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum that varies from colorless to ruby red to black and is used as a gem

2 : any of a group of minerals that are essentially oxides of magnesium, ferrous iron, zinc, or manganese

Examples of spinel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One was the massive Black Prince’s ruby, a 170-carat spinel that Henry V wore at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, "As the Nazis bombed Britain, the royals hid the crown jewels in the least likely place," 13 Jan. 2018

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