QUARTZ

kworts

Noun6 lettersValid in our Scrabble word list
Unscramble QUARTZ

Quick definition

QUARTZ A hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms, one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust.

Is QUARTZ a valid Scrabble word?

Yes. QUARTZ is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 24 points in Scrabble, 25 in Words With Friends and 25 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.

LetterQUARTZTotal
Scrabble1011111024
Words With Friends1021111025
Wordfeud1021111025

Definition and meaning

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms (silicon dioxide - SiO₂). It is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. Quartz occurs in many varieties, from clear rock crystal to purple amethyst, pink rose quartz, and smoky quartz.

This versatile mineral has been prized throughout human history for both its beauty and utility. Ancient civilizations used quartz for tools and decorative objects, while modern technology relies on its piezoelectric properties in watches, radios, and computer chips.

In word games, 'quartz' is particularly valuable because it uses common letters (U, A, R, T) alongside the high-scoring Q and Z. This balance makes it more playable than many other Q-Z combinations, especially when you need to clear difficult tiles from your rack.

QUARTZ in a sentence

  • The jeweler examined the rose quartz pendant under a magnifying glass to verify its authenticity.
  • Quartz crystals in the watch oscillate at precisely 32,768 times per second, keeping accurate time.
  • The granite countertop contained visible specks of quartz that sparkled in the sunlight.

Synonyms

  • CRYSTALClear mineral form
  • SILICAChemical compound
  • MINERALNatural substance
  • GEMSTONEPrecious stone
  • ROCK CRYSTALClear quartz variety

Antonyms

  • ORGANICLiving matter
  • SOFTNot hard
  • SOLUBLEDissolvable
  • ARTIFICIALMan-made

Word forms

  • Plural Form: quartzes
  • Adjective Form: quartzose, quartzitic

Origin

The word 'quartz' has an interesting journey through multiple languages. It entered English in the 1750s from German 'Quarz,' which itself has uncertain origins. Some linguists trace it to Middle High German 'twarc' (dwarf), possibly referencing the belief that underground gnomes placed crystals in the earth. Another theory connects it to the Slavic languages, particularly Czech 'tvrdý' (hard) or Polish 'twardy' (hard), reflecting the mineral's notable hardness. The word might have entered German through mining terminology, as many mining terms came from Slavic languages due to the important mining regions in Central Europe.

Anagrams, hooks and words inside QUARTZ

Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of QUARTZ.

Hooks: no front hooks; no back hooks.

Words inside QUARTZ: 15 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: QUARTTZARQATQUAZAARTRATRUTTARTAUUTAAR. See all words from QUARTZ.

Related words

Did you know?

  • Quartz is so abundant it makes up about 12% of Earth's crust by volume.
  • The largest single quartz crystal ever found weighed over 44 tons and was discovered in Brazil.
  • Quartz sand is the primary ingredient in glass manufacturing.

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