girasol

girasol
    n 1: an opal with flaming orange and yellow and red colors [syn:
         {fire opal}, {girasol}]
    2: tall perennial with hairy stems and leaves; widely cultivated
       for its large irregular edible tubers [syn: {Jerusalem
       artichoke}, {girasol}, {Jerusalem artichoke sunflower},
       {Helianthus tuberosus}]
    

Girasole \Gir"a*sole\ Girasol \Gir"a*sol\, n. [It. girasole, or
   F. girasol, fr. L. gyrare to turn around + sol sun.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Bot.) See {Heliotrope}. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Min.) A variety of opal which is usually milk white,
      bluish white, or sky blue; but in a bright light it
      reflects a reddish color.
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Opal \O"pal\, n. [L. opalus: cf. Gr. ?, Skr. upala a rock,
   stone, precious stone: cf. F. opale.] (Min.)
   A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to
   quartz in hardness and specific gravity.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The {precious opal} presents a peculiar play of colors
         of delicate tints, and is highly esteemed as a gem. One
         kind, with a varied play of color in a reddish ground,
         is called the {harlequin opal}. The {fire opal} has
         colors like the red and yellow of flame. {Common opal}
         has a milky appearance. {Menilite} is a brown impure
         variety, occurring in concretions at Menilmontant, near
         Paris. Other varieties are {cacholong}, {girasol},
         {hyalite}, and {geyserite}.
         [1913 Webster]