🇫🇷French Source WordCode: FR

onyx

Pronunciation / Transliteration: oniks

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Onyx/ˈɒn.ɪks/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
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🇫🇷 Example Sentence in French:

"Elle a acheté une bague en onyx."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A type of chalcedony, a mineral that is a variety of quartz, typically characterized by its banded appearance in shades of black and white.

    "The artisan crafted a stunning necklace featuring a large onyx pendant."
  2. 2

    A gemstone often used in jewelry, known for its smooth texture and striking color contrast.

    "She chose an onyx ring for its elegant and timeless look."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'onyx' comes from the Latin 'onyx', which in turn derives from the Greek 'onyx', meaning 'fingernail' or 'claw', likely due to the stone's resemblance to a fingernail in color and appearance. The term has been used since ancient times to describe this type of chalcedony, which has been valued for its beauty and use in jewelry.

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