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

Recent Examples on the Web

Her Rachmaninov bracelet, shown here, features diamonds, sapphires, tourmalines, garnets, tsavorites, spinel, and ruby in some 20 iterations—for a total of 1,361 stones in all. — Vogue, "Haute Couture Jewelry Report: A New Generation Alights," 9 July 2019 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

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