Background for agate

agate

/ˈæ.ɡət/ /əˈɡæt/

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

A semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen, with colors delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.

Examples :

"My grandmother's favorite necklace has a beautiful agate pendant, its swirling brown and white bands creating a unique pattern in the stone. "

geology mineral material substance nature

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

The size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5 1/2-point.

Examples :

"The footnotes in the old book were printed in agate, making them very small and hard to read without a magnifying glass. "

type writing language

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

One fourteenth of an inch

Examples :

"The printer needs to shift the image just one agate to the right to center it on the page. "

unit amount number

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals.

Examples :

"Though a respected professor, Dr. Evans was such an agate that he was often mistaken for a student. "

person appearance character

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.;—so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.

Examples :

"The bookbinder used an agate to smooth the gold leaf on the cover, giving it a polished shine. "

material utensil job

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

A marble made from agate.

Examples :

"My grandmother's antique jewelry box contained a beautiful agate, a small, intricately patterned marble. "

material geology

Illustration agate - Image 1

noun

(usually in the plural) A testicle.

anatomy body organ sex

Illustration agate - Image 1

adverb

On the way; agoing.

Examples :

"to be agate; to set the bells agate"