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onyx
[ on-iks ]
noun
- Mineralogy. a variety of chalcedony having straight parallel bands of alternating colors. Compare Mexican onyx.
- (not used technically) an unbanded chalcedony dyed for ornamental purposes.
- black, especially a pure or jet black:
The pelt of this animal can range from onyx to light brown, depending on the season.
- Medicine/Medical. a nail of a finger or toe.
adjective
- made of or set with banded chalcedony:
He wore the onyx cufflinks she had given him for his birthday.
- black, especially jet black:
She was a vision in black, from her onyx hair to her shiny boots.
onyx
/ ˈɒnɪks /
noun
- a variety of chalcedony with alternating black and white parallel bands, used as a gemstone. Formula: SiO 2
- a compact variety of calcite used as an ornamental stone; onyx marble. Formula: CaCO 3
onyx
/ ŏn′ĭks /
- A type of chalcedony that occurs in straight and parallel bands of different colors, often black and white.
Word History and Origins
Origin of onyx1
Word History and Origins
Origin of onyx1
Example Sentences
For a home in Toronto, where she designed a shower for two people, she used book-matched slabs of onyx on the walls, “because they really wanted a wow factor.”
The onyx markings on their masks resemble various animals and creatures; each mask is unique.
Their wings are garbed with radiant pink, pearl, onyx and sulfur yellow scales, which birds and carnivorous insects can easily spot from a distance.
Mr. Ghaffarian, 66, sat at a table made of gently glowing white onyx, also from Iran.
And the boulders peeking out from the lapping waves remind me of polished onyx.
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More About Onyx
What does onyx mean?
Onyx is a gemstone that’s especially known for its opaque, all-black variety.
Other varieties are black with with different-colored layers, including white.
Onyx is commonly used in jewelry. Historically, onyx was popular as a material for cameos—engraved gems. Sometimes, it is dyed or artificially colored.
Onyx is one of the birthstones for the month of July. It is associated with the zodiac sign Leo.
The word onyx is also used to refer to a very deep black color (jet-black) or describe things that are that color.
Example: In this ring, the sparkling diamonds are a perfect contrast to the jet-black onyx in the center.
Where does onyx come from?
The first records of the word onyx come from the 1200s. It comes from the Greek ónyx, meaning “nail,” “claw,” or “veined gem.”
Onyx is a variety of the mineral chalcedony, a kind of quartz. The gemstone known as sardonyx is another variety of chalcedony that’s reddish-brown with white layers.
The all-black variety of onyx is sometimes confused with the volcanic glass obsidian. It is also sometimes incorrectly referred to as Mexican onyx or onyx marble.
Did you know … ?
What are some synonyms for onyx?
What are some words that share a root or word element with onyx?
What are some words that often get used in discussing onyx?
How is onyx used in real life?
Onyx is common in jewelry. It’s best known for its all-black variety.
A nap sounds pretty good right about now. A nymph sleeping beneath a tree is depicted on this Renaissance-era onyx gem, obj. 29-128-1854 in our Mediterranean Section: https://t.co/1eRMhMLEW7 #NationalNappingDay pic.twitter.com/akv4lU4uGB
— Penn Museum (@pennmuseum) March 12, 2018
Cup of the Ptolemies, maybe from Alexandria, Egypt, 3rd to 1st c. BC. Onyx cameo cup. Eventually, it found its way into the treasury of the French kingdom. In 1804, the cup was stolen, and the mounts lost. The cup itself was recovered and is now in the BNF, Paris. pic.twitter.com/CdiazQQWph
— CARAA (@CARAA_Center) December 31, 2018
Anyone that knows me knows I can't resist jewellery that involves snakes 🐍 and the onyx stone just makes it even better! pic.twitter.com/adA3ph1uZV
— 𓆘 SJ (@_sophiejessica_) November 14, 2020
Try using onyx!
True or False?
Onyx is always jet-black.
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