n.
Pronunciation: ' ber- ə l, ' be-r ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French beril, from Latin beryllus, from Greek b ē ryllos, back-formation from b ē ryllion beryl, of Indo-Aryan origin; akin to Prakrit verulia, veluriya beryl
Date: 13th century
: a mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum of great hardness that occurs in colorless hexagonal prisms when pure and in various colors (as green, blue, yellow, or pink) when not pure, that is valued as a source of gems, and that is the principal source of beryllium