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Chert vs Agate - What's the difference?

chert | agate |

As a noun chert

is (geology|uncountable) massive, usually dull-colored and opaque, quartzite, hornstone, impure chalcedony, or other flint-like mineral.

As a proper noun agate is

.

chert

English

Noun

  • (geology, uncountable) Massive, usually dull-colored and opaque, quartzite, hornstone, impure chalcedony, or other flint-like mineral.
  • (countable) A flint-like tool made from chert.

    • Usage notes

    Generally, in mineralogy and geology, a chert does not have a conchoidal fracture. In North American archeology the term chert occasionally is still used for various siliceous minerals (including flint) that have a conchoidal fracture; this leads to confusion between the terms flint and chert in some archeology texts.

    See also

    * chalcedony * flint * jasper * quartzite * silicate

    Anagrams

    *

    agate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) agathe, from (etyl) .

    Noun

  • (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.
    • Synonyms
    * (printing) ruby (Britain)
    Hyponyms
    * (mineralogy) fortification agate, Scotch pebble; moss agate, clouded agate
    Derived terms
    * moss agate * agate line * agateware
    Related terms
    * aggie

    Etymology 2

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (obsolete) On the way; agoing.
    • to be agate'''; to set the bells '''agate
    (Cotgrave)
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