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noun

beryl

BEHR-uhl

Beryl (noun) means a hard mineral, sometimes cut as a gemstone, that occurs in varieties such as emerald and aquamarine. Example: “The ring was set with a pale green beryl instead of an emerald.”

noun
1
A hard mineral, sometimes cut as a gemstone, that occurs in varieties such as emerald and aquamarine.
"The ring was set with a pale green beryl instead of an emerald."
"Beryl crystals can grow to enormous sizes in certain rock formations."
2
A dull blue-green colour, named after the mineral.
"She painted the shutters a soft beryl to match the sea view."

How to use beryl

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA gem-quality mineral (or its pale blue-green colour); also used as a first name.

Common pairings
a beryl gemstone pale beryl green beryl

Word forms

beryls plural

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Test yourself on “beryl” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The ring was set with a pale green _____ instead of an emerald.

Etymology

Traced back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek bḗrullos, ultimately from an old Dravidian place name in southern India where the gem was mined.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for beryl

See all rhymes for beryl →

Frequently asked questions

What does “beryl” mean?

The word “beryl” means a hard mineral, sometimes cut as a gemstone, that occurs in varieties such as emerald and aquamarine. In plain terms, a gem-quality mineral (or its pale blue-green colour); also used as a first name.

How do you pronounce “beryl”?

“Beryl” is pronounced BEHR-uhl (/ˈbɛɹ.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “beryl” in a sentence?

Here is “beryl” used in a sentence: “The ring was set with a pale green beryl instead of an emerald.”

What part of speech is “beryl”?

“Beryl” is a noun.

Where does the word “beryl” come from?

The word “beryl” comes from Ancient Greek. Traced back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek bḗrullos, ultimately from an old Dravidian place name in southern India where the gem was mined.

How many meanings does “beryl” have?

“Beryl” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard mineral, sometimes cut as a gemstone, that occurs in varieties such as emerald and aquamarine.

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