jasper
Jasper (noun) means an opaque, often red or yellow variety of quartz used as a decorative or semi-precious stone. Example: “The necklace was set with a polished piece of red jasper.”
How to Use Jasper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA colourful, opaque semi-precious stone often used in jewellery.
Word Forms
jaspered past tense, jaspers plural, jaspers plural, jaspers singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The necklace was set with a polished piece of red _____.
Etymology
From Old French jaspre, from Latin iaspis, from Greek iaspis — the same word underlies the biblical and gemological uses.
Rhymes for jasper
See all rhymes for jasper →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “jasper” mean?
The word “jasper” means an opaque, often red or yellow variety of quartz used as a decorative or semi-precious stone. In plain terms, a colourful, opaque semi-precious stone often used in jewellery.
How do you pronounce “jasper”?
“Jasper” is pronounced JAS-puh (/ˈd͡ʒæs.pɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “jasper” in a sentence?
Here is “jasper” used in a sentence: “The necklace was set with a polished piece of red jasper.”
What part of speech is “jasper”?
“Jasper” is a noun.
Where does the word “jasper” come from?
The word “jasper” comes from Latin. From Old French jaspre, from Latin iaspis, from Greek iaspis — the same word underlies the biblical and gemological uses.
Is “jasper” a common word?
“Jasper” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between jasper and agate?
Jasper and agate are both varieties of quartz, but jasper is opaque, while agate is typically translucent or banded. Jasper is often solid in color, commonly red or yellow, whereas agate is prized for its layered patterns.
Is jasper considered a precious or semi-precious stone?
Jasper is classified as a semi-precious stone. It is valued for decorative and ornamental use rather than ranking among the small group of gems considered precious, such as diamond or ruby.
Is jasper always red or yellow?
Jasper is most often found in red or yellow shades, but it can occur in other colors as well since it is an opaque variety of quartz. Its color depends on the mineral impurities present when it formed.
Featured In
Vocabulary lists that include jasper: