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obsidian
[ uhb-sid-ee-uhn ]
/ əbˈsɪd i ən /
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noun
a volcanic glass similar in composition to granite, usually dark but transparent in thin pieces, and having a good conchoidal fracture.
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Origin of obsidian
1350–1400; <Latin Obsidiānus, printer's error for Obsiānus pertaining to Obsius, the discoverer (according to Pliny) of a similar mineral in Ethiopia; replacing Middle English obsianus<Latin; see -an
Words nearby obsidian
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use obsidian in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for obsidian
obsidian
/ (ɒbˈsɪdɪən) /
noun
a dark volcanic glass formed by very rapid solidification of lavaAlso called: Iceland agate
Word Origin for obsidian
C17: from Latin obsidiānus, erroneous transcription of obsiānus (lapis) (stone of) Obsius, the name (in Pliny) of the discoverer of a stone resembling obsidian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Scientific definitions for obsidian
obsidian
[ ŏb-sĭd′ē-ən ]
A shiny, usually black, volcanic glass. Obsidian forms above ground from lava that is similar in composition to the magma from which granite forms underground, but cools so quickly that minerals do not have a chance to form within it.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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