Bĕr'yl, n.

n. [Fr. béryl, O. Fr. beril, bericle, Pr. berille, bericle, L. Lat. bericlus, Lat. beryllus, Gr. βήρυλλος, Ar. billaur, or billaur, beryl, crystal, Per. bullur, bulur, crystal.] (Min.) A mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much beauty. It occurs in green, or bluish-green, six-sided prisms, and consists of silica, alumina, and the rare earth glucina. It is identical with the emerald, except in color, the latter being colored by oxide of chrome, and the beryl by oxide of iron. The beryl, when transparent, is set as a gem, and called aqua-marine. Dana.