obsidian
[ uhb-sid-ee-uhn ]
/ əbË?sɪd i É™n /
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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 ObsidiÄ?nus, printer's error for ObsiÄ?nus pertaining to Obsius, the discoverer (according to Pliny) of a similar mineral in Ethiopia; replacing Middle English obsianus<Latin; see -an
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British Dictionary definitions for obsidian
obsidian
/ (É’bË?sɪdɪən) /
noun
a dark volcanic glass formed by very rapid solidification of lavaAlso called: Iceland agate
Word Origin for obsidian
C17: from Latin obsidiÄ?nus, erroneous transcription of obsiÄ?nus (lapis) (stone of) Obsius, the name (in Pliny) of the discoverer of a stone resembling obsidian
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Scientific definitions for obsidian
obsidian
[ Åb-sÄd′ē-É™n ]
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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