zircon

noun

zir·​con ˈzər-ˌkän How to pronounce zircon (audio)
-kən
: a tetragonal mineral consisting of a silicate of zirconium and occurring usually in brown or grayish square prisms of adamantine luster or sometimes in transparent forms which are used as gems

Examples of zircon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some of the zircons that were critical to the study. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 16 Aug. 2023 To date the moon, the researchers obtained lunar dust collected by Apollo 17 in 1972 and analyzed the tiny zircon crystals and uranium contained inside. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023 This technique involves evaporating individual atoms from one of the zircon crystals with a laser beam and identifying them, per the Washington Post. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023 Lunar zircon crystals are like cosmic timepieces that started ticking once that magma ocean cooled and solidified. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023 Mason and his colleagues found evidence of multiple exhumation events (cooling periods) where zircon were brought back to the surface interleaved with volcanically-active times (magmatic periods) that created new zircon. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2022 The monarch will actually wear two crowns at the coronation: Charles will officially be crowned with the St. Edward's Crown, which was crafted in 1661 with a solid-gold frame that's adorned with semi-precious stones from tourmalines, topazes, rubies, sapphires, zircons and aquamarines. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2023 Most of these zircon were brought back to the surface and eroded (a process called exhumation) in the last few million years. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2022 Standard configuration for a zircon analyses via SHRIMP-RG. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 26 Nov. 2012

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zircon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zircon was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near zircon

Cite this Entry

“Zircon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zircon. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

zircon

noun
zir·​con ˈzər-ˌkän How to pronounce zircon (audio)
-kən
: a mineral that consists of a silicate of zirconium and occurs usually as brown or grayish crystals or sometimes as transparent forms which are used as gems

More from Merriam-Webster on zircon

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