alexandrite en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- ăl'-ĭg-zăn'-drīt (US)
- /ˌæl.ɪɡˈzæn.dɹaɪt/ (US)
Etymology
From Alexander + -ite, named after Alexander II of Russia.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) A form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change dependent upon the light source, along with strong pleochroism.
[…] the body of each high seat was a single jewel of monstrous size: the left-hand seat a black opal, asparkle with steel-blue fire, the next a fire-opal, as it were a burning coal, the third seat an alexandrite, purple like wine by night but deep sea-green by day.
1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 2:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| alexandrites | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (17)
cmn 變色石 /变色石 (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · fi aleksandriitti (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · ja 金緑石 (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · it alessandrite (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · pl aleksandryt (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · pt alexandrita (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · cmn 亞歷山大石 /亚历山大石 (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · cmn 變石 /变石 (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · cmn 紫翠玉 (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · ru александри́т (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · es alejandrita (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · ro alexandrit (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · cmn 金綠寶石 /金绿宝石 (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · ja アレキサンドライト (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · el αλεξανδρίτης (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · fr alexandrite (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change) · ja クリソベリル (form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change)