tourmaline noun & adjective. ['tʊǝmǝlɪn, -i:n] M18.
[French tourmaline, German Turmalin, Dutch toermalijn, Spanish, Italian, turmalina, ult. from Sinhalese tōramalli cornelian.]
A. noun.
1. Mineralogy. A brittle boron aluminosilicate mineral with a glassy lustre, occurring as prismatic crystals of the trigonal system, in compact or columnar masses, and in esp. granitic rocks, usually blackish and opaque (schorl), but also valued as a semi-precious stone in semi-transparent forms of various shades, and used (esp. for its pyroelectric and polarizing properties) in electrical and optical instruments. M18.
b. A specimen or gem of this mineral. E19.

2. (Proprietary name for) a mink fur of a pale beige colour; the colour of this. M20.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Of the colour of tourmaline (sense A.2 above), pale beige. M20.

■ tourmalinize verb trans. (Geology) alter (granitic rock) into a form rich in tourmaline, esp. by hydrothermal veining (chiefly as

■ tourmalinized ppl adjective,

■ tourmalinizing verbal noun) L19.

■ tourmalini'zation noun the process or state of being tourmalinized L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲