Definition of QUARTZ

quartz

Meanings

Plural: quartzes

Noun

  • colorless glass made of almost pure silica
  • 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
  • The most abundant mineral on the earth's surface, of chemical composition silicon dioxide, SiO₂. It occurs in a variety of forms, both crystalline and amorphous. Found in every environment.
  • Crystal meth: methamphetamine hydrochloride.

Origin / Etymology

From German Quarz, from Middle High German (Central East German) quarz, twarc, from a West Slavic language [compare Polish twardy (“hard”), Czech tvrdý (“hard”)], from Proto-Slavic *tvьrdъ ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *twerH- (“to enclose, grab”).

Synonyms

crystal, lechatelierite, quartz, quartz glass, vitreous silica

Scrabble Score: 24

quartz is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
quartz is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
quartz is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 25

quartz is a valid Words With Friends word