aventurine
|a-ven-tu-rine|
🇺🇸
/ˌævənˈtjʊərɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌævənˈtʃʊərɪn/
sparkling (chance-found) stone
Etymology
'aventurine' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'avventurina,' which comes from 'avventura' meaning 'chance' or 'adventure' (from the idea of a chance discovery).
'aventurine' entered English via Italian 'avventurina' (used for a glittering glass discovered in Venice); Italian 'avventura' derives from Vulgar Latin (and medieval Latin) related to Latin 'adventūra'/'adventus' connected with 'advenire' meaning 'to arrive' or 'that which happens'.
Initially the Italian term referred to a glass with a shimmering effect discovered 'by chance' ('per avventura'); over time it came to denote the natural glittering variety of quartz as well as the glass, and today refers both to the mineral and to materials imitating its shimmer.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a green to blue-green variety of quartz (or occasionally other minerals) that contains tiny reflective inclusions producing a glittery, shimmery effect called aventurescence.
The necklace was set with a carved aventurine pendant that caught the light.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a type of man-made glittering glass (also called 'goldstone') produced by the inclusion of metallic flakes; often referred to as aventurine glass.
Historically, small decorative objects were made from aventurine glass in Venice.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having the appearance, color, or glittering quality of aventurine; used to describe materials or objects that display aventurescence.
She bought an aventurine bead to add a sparkly touch to the bracelet.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/01 10:18