zircon noun. ['zǝ:kǝn] L18.
[German Zirkon. Cf. JARGON noun².]
A tetragonal silicate of zirconium, occurring in variously coloured prismatic crystals, and mined as the main ore of zirconium. Also, a stone of a translucent variety of this, cut as a gem.

Comb.:
zircon blue a light blue colour.

■ zirconate noun a salt containing oxyanions of zirconium M19.

■ zirconian [zǝ:'kǝʊnɪǝn] adjective zirconic; spec. in Mineralogy, designating a mineral in which zirconium replaces a (small) proportion of some constituent element: M19.

■ zirconic [zǝ:'kɒnɪk] adjective of, pertaining to, or resembling zircon; containing zirconia or zirconium: E19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲