Agate vs Chalcedony - What's the difference?
agate | chalcedony |
(countable, uncountable, mineral) A semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen, with colors delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.
(uncountable, US, printing) 5.5-point size of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.
(countable, obsolete) A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals.
(countable) A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.;—so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.
(slang, usually in plural) A testicle.
(obsolete) On the way; agoing.
A form of fine-grained quartz that is nearly transparent or has a milky translucence; it fractures conchoidally.
*{{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
, author=Lee A. Groat
, title=Gemstones
, volume=100, issue=2, page=128
, magazine=(American Scientist)
As nouns the difference between agate and chalcedony
is that agate is a semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen, with colors delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds while chalcedony is a form of fine-grained quartz that is nearly transparent or has a milky translucence; it fractures conchoidally.As an adverb agate
is on the way; agoing.agate
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) agathe, from (etyl) .Noun
Synonyms
* (printing) ruby (Britain)Hyponyms
* (mineralogy) fortification agate, Scotch pebble; moss agate, clouded agateDerived terms
* moss agate * agate line * agatewareEtymology 2
Adverb
(-)- to be agate'''; to set the bells '''agate
- (Cotgrave)
chalcedony
English
Noun
(chalcedonies)citation, passage=Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are […] . (Common gem materials not addressed in this article include amber, amethyst, chalcedony , garnet, lazurite, malachite, opals, peridot, rhodonite, spinel, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.)}}