zircon, n.

zircon
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zircon_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# zirconnoun

## Earlier version

- zircon in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zircon mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zircon. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun zircon?

About 0.5occurrences per million words in modern written English

1800 | 0.29
1810 | 0.25
1820 | 0.22
1830 | 0.16
1840 | 0.11
1850 | 0.1
1860 | 0.11
1870 | 0.13
1880 | 0.17
1890 | 0.25
1900 | 0.29
1910 | 0.39
1920 | 0.46
1930 | 0.56
1940 | 0.61
1950 | 0.65
1960 | 0.64
1970 | 0.63
1980 | 0.57
1990 | 0.52
2000 | 0.51
2010 | 0.48

### How is the noun zircon pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzəːkɒn/
ZUR-kon

#### U.S. English

/ˈzərˌkɑn/
ZURR-kahn

### Where does the noun zircon come from?

Earliest known use

late 1700s

The earliest known use of the noun zircon is in the late 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for zircon is from 1794, in the writing of Richard Kirwan, chemist and mineralogist.

zircon is a borrowing from German.

Etymons: German Zirkon.

### Nearby entries

1. zip top, n. 1926–
2. zip-up, adj. & n. 1927–
3. zip wire, n. 1971–
4. zir, pron. 1993–
5. zir, adj. 1993–
6. ziraleet, n. 1794–
7. ziram, n. 1950–
8. zirbal, adj.?a1425–
9. zirbus, n. a1400–
10. zircaloy, n. 1953–
11. zircon, n.1794–
12. zirconate, n. 1820–
13. zircon blue, n. & adj. 1928–
14. zircon earth, n. 1794–
15. zirconia, n. 1794–
16. zirconian, adj. 1802–
17. zirconic, adj. 1804–
18. zirconite, n. 1806–
19. zirconitic, adj. 1883–
20. zirconium, n. 1808–
21. zircon-like, adj. 1857–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from German.
Etymon: German Zirkon.
< German Zirkon (A. G. Werner Cronstedts Versuch einer Mineralogie (1780) 162), probably an alteration of German †Cerkonier colourless zircon (1773 or earlier, usually with plural agreement; also as…
< German Zirkon (A. G. Werner Cronstedts Versuch einer Mineralogie (1780) 162), probably an alteration of German †Cerkonier colourless zircon (1773 or earlier, usually with plural agreement; also as Circonier, Zerkonier, Zirkonier), itself apparently an assimilated borrowing < Italian (now archaic and rare) giargone, giarcone, zargone, gergone (14th cent., plural giargoni; compare jargon n.2) < Old French, Middle French jacunce, jargunce jacounce n.

Compare jargon n.2, jacounce n., jacinth n., and hyacinth n.

### Notes

Compare French jargon de Ceylan, in the same sense (1783 in J.-B.-L. Romé de l'Isle Cristallographie vol. II. 229, referred to in Klaproth), and French zircon (1789 as zirkon; < German).
Compare scientific Latin circonius, adjective (1789 in silex circonius (compare silex n.1), M. H. Klaproth in Beobachtungen und Entdeckungen aus der Naturkunde vol. III. (1789) 148, perhaps with reference to an unpublished work by A. G. Werner).

## Meaning & use

Mineralogy.

1. 1794–
   A mineral which consists of zirconium silicate and occurs as prismatic crystals, most commonly light or reddish brown but sometimes colourless, grey, yellow, green, or blue. Also: a crystal or gem of this mineral.
   Chemical formula: ZrSiO4, often with small amounts of rare-earth and other metals. Crystal system: tetragonal.
   Zircon is a widespread minor component of igneous rocks. Colourless and transparent varieties are used as gems: cf. hyacinth n. 1a, jacinth n. 1a, jargon n.2, Matara diamond n.
   1. 1794

      > Jargonic Earth or Jargonia. This earth has been discovered by Mr. Klaproth; it has as yet been found only in the stone called Jargon, or Circon, of Ceylon.

      R. Kirwan, Elements of Mineralogy (ed. 2) vol. I. 14
   2. 1815

      > Zircon is destitute of taste and smell, and is harsh to the touch.

      J. Smith, Panorama of Science & Art vol. II. 453
   3. 1831

      > With the auriferous sand are found..little white zircons as brilliant as diamonds.

      translation of A. von Humboldt in Journal of Royal Institution Great Britain vol. 1 418
   4. 1929

      > Zircon occurs always in crystals, square prisms terminated by a four-sided pyramid.

      G. P. Merrill, Minerals from Earth & Sky ii. iv. 253
   5. 1988

      > Ages even greater than 4.1 aeons..may be found for other zircons in the sample and its parent rock.

      P. Cloud, Oasis in Space vi. 136/2
   6. 2011

      > For my money, weapon-wielding thugs can't compare to the guy who can switch a diamond for a zircon.

      Wired February 89
   minerals
   1. jargon 1769–
      A translucent, colourless, or smoky variety of the mineral zircon, found in Sri Lanka.
   2. zircon 1794–
      A mineral which consists of zirconium silicate and occurs as prismatic crystals, most commonly light or reddish brown but sometimes colourless…
   3. zirconite 1806–
      The mineral zircon; esp. a greyish or brownish variety of this.
   4. hyacinth 1879–
      A precious stone. (a) Rendering or representing Greek ὑάκινθος, Latin hyacinthus, ancient name of a precious stone of a blue colour, probably the…
   5. Matura diamond 1886–
      transferred. Applied (usually with distinguishing epithet) to other crystalline minerals, resembling the diamond in brilliancy; as Bristol diamond…
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. jargon 1769–
      A translucent, colourless, or smoky variety of the mineral zircon, found in Sri Lanka.
   2. zircon 1794–
      A mineral which consists of zirconium silicate and occurs as prismatic crystals, most commonly light or reddish brown but sometimes colourless…
   3. zirconite 1806–
      The mineral zircon; esp. a greyish or brownish variety of this.
   4. Matara diamond 1807–
      A colourless or smoky variety of zircon used as a gem; = jargon, n.² Also: a stone of this variety.
   5. malacon 1854–
      A soft brown altered form of zircon.
   6. hyacinth 1879–
      A precious stone. (a) Rendering or representing Greek ὑάκινθος, Latin hyacinthus, ancient name of a precious stone of a blue colour, probably the…
   7. lavenite 1886–
      Silicate of zirconium, found in brown monoclinic crystals.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzəːkɒn/
ZUR-kon

### U.S. English

/ˈzərˌkɑn/
ZURR-kahn

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1700s–1800s
   circon
2. 1800s–
   zircon, zircone

## Frequency

zircon typically occurs about 0.5 times per million words in modern written English.

zircon is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zircon, n., 1800–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1800 | 0.29
1810 | 0.25
1820 | 0.22
1830 | 0.16
1840 | 0.11
1850 | 0.1
1860 | 0.11
1870 | 0.13
1880 | 0.17
1890 | 0.25
1900 | 0.29
1910 | 0.39
1920 | 0.46
1930 | 0.56
1940 | 0.61
1950 | 0.65
1960 | 0.64
1970 | 0.63
1980 | 0.57
1990 | 0.52
2000 | 0.51
2010 | 0.48

### Frequency of zircon, n., 2017–2024

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.

Period | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
2017 | 0.1
2018 | 0.1
2019 | 0.12
2020 | 0.16
2021 | 0.18
2022 | 0.2
2023 | 0.23
2024 | 0.24

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zircon earth, n. 1794–
   Zirconia (zirconium dioxide).

1. zirconic, adj. 1804–
   Of or relating to zirconium; (occasionally) of or…

1. zirconium, n. 1808–
   A hard lustrous grey metallic chemical element…

1. zircon-syenite, n. 1813–
   A plutonic rock resembling syenite and containing…

1. zircon-like, adj. 1857–

1. zircon blue, n. & adj. 1928–
   a. n. A light blue colour like that of some…

1. C.1.
   1804–
   General use as a modifier, as in zircon crystal, zircon grain, zircon ring, etc.
   1. 1804

      > The zircon crystal is formed.

      R. Jameson, System of Mineralogy vol. I. 34
   2. 1884

      > Light-brownish zircon grains also occur.

      M. E. Wadsworth, Lithol. Studies iii. §iv. 122
   3. 1916

      > Men and children are paid a certain price per pound for the zircon crystals.

      J. H. Pratt, Zircon, Monazite & Other Minerals 15
   4. 1966

      > Calli tucked his napkin into the zircon necklace he'd worn.

      S. R. Delany, Babel-17 iv. iii. 201
   5. 2004

      > He stared at her and the cheap zircon ring he'd bought her last autumn, and felt guilty.

      P. Southern, Craze vii. 55
   minerals
2. C.2.
   1. zircon earth, n. 1794–
      Zirconia (zirconium dioxide).
   1. zircon-syenite, n. 1813–
      A plutonic rock resembling syenite and containing…
   1. zircon blue, n. & adj. 1928–
      a. n. A light blue colour like that of some…

zircon, n. was revised in March 2021.

zircon, n. was last modified in December 2024.