Definition

A shiny, artificial stone made of glass or other materials that looks like a diamond.

Example

She wore a beautiful necklace adorned with rhinestones that sparkled in the light.

Conversation

I saw a really beautiful necklace at the store yesterday.

Oh really? What did it look like?

It had a big rhinestone in the center that sparkled so much.

That sounds stunning! I love jewelry that shines.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Rhinestone is formed from "rhin" (from German "Rhein", meaning Rhine) and "stone" (from Old English "stan", meaning rock or stone). The term originally referred to a type of glass that resembled diamonds and was often made near the Rhine River.

Memory Tip

Think of the Rhine River ('rhin') where these sparkling stones were made, combined with 'stone' to remember that rhinestones are decorative stones that mimic the look of diamonds.

Visually Confused Words