noun
opal
OH-puhl
noun
1
A gemstone form of silica that often displays a shifting play of rainbow colors within it.
"The necklace was set with a single fiery opal."
2
A pale, milky blue color flecked with other colors, named after the gemstone.
"The bathroom tiles were a soft opal shade."
How to Use Opal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA colorful, shimmering gemstone, or the pale iridescent color named after it.
Common pairings
fire opal
opal ring
black opal
Word Forms
opals plural
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The necklace was set with a single fiery _____.
Etymology
From Latin opalus, ultimately traced back to Sanskrit upala ("gem, stone"); first recorded in English around 1598.