Definition

A type of mineral that can have many colors and is often used as a gemstone. It is made up of boron, aluminum, and other elements, and can be found in prismatic crystal shapes.

Example

She wore a beautiful necklace made of green tourmaline.

Conversation

Did you know that tourmaline comes in so many colors?

Really? I thought it was just green or black.

Actually, it can be pink, blue, and even yellow!

That's amazing! I need to see some of those colorful tourmaline gems.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tourmaline originates from the Sinhalese word 'turmali', meaning 'mixed gems'. The term was used to describe a variety of gemstones that were often found together, reflecting the stone's diverse colors and compositions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a collection of 'mixed gems' — that's what tourmaline represents, a beautiful variety of colors and types of gemstones.

Visually Confused Words