amethyst

/ˈæməθəst/

/ˈæmɛθɪst/

Other forms: amethysts

An amethyst is a purple stone, a type of quartz that's used to make jewelry. Polished amethysts are used for rings, pins, earrings, and necklaces.

Amethysts sparkle with light — they are partly translucent and vary in color from a pale pinkish-purple to a deep violet. Amethysts were used to make ornaments and jewelry in ancient Egypt and are the birthstone for the month of February. The word amethyst comes from a Greek root, amethystos, which literally means "not intoxicating," from a-, "not," methyskein, "make drunk," based on the ancient belief that the stone could prevent drunkenness.

Definitions of amethyst

1. noun

   a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
   type of:

   quartz

   a hard glossy mineral consisting of silicon dioxide in crystal form; present in most rocks (especially sandstone and granite); yellow sand is quartz with iron oxide impurities

   transparent gem

   a gemstone having the property of transmitting light without serious diffusion
2. adjective

   of a moderate purple color
   synonyms:

   chromatic

   being, having, or characterized by hue