Ryan Thompson's definitions
Ebonics. To give birth to a child, or children. Actual spelling of this term is 'birthing babies', even though it is pronounced differently. Even the correct pronunciation isn't really used outside the world of ebonics.
by Ryan Thompson September 5, 2004
Get the Birfing babies mug.Cubic zirconia (sometimes called simply 'cz') is the most popular diamond simulant in the world today. It is an oxide of the metallic element zirconium, ZrO². It has a hardness of about 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, as opposed to diamond, which is 10, sapphire/ruby which is 9, topaz which is 8, and so on. The refractive index of CZ is 2.42. It can be made in nearly any color and can be faceted into many cuts.
CZ occurs naturally but in pieces too small for jewelry purposes. It wasn't until the 1970s however when Soviet scientists learned how to grow this mineral in the laboratory, at which time jewelry designers first took notice of cubic zirconia. For the first few years it was on the market it was often sold for as much as $20 per carat (!!) and was only available in a few colors.
CZ is more dense than diamond -- it weighs more for its size than diamond does. Sapphire and ruby, both of which are the same gemstone, just different colors, are also more dense than diamond. CZ is about 75% heavier than diamond. As such, a CZ's size is referred to in carats usually in comparison to diamonds. CZs are more accurately measured in millimeters, referring to the width of the stone. A 6.5 mm cubic zirconia is equal in size to a one-carat diamond and actually weighs about 1.75 carats.
CZ isn't grown/created like any other imitation gemstone in the world, either. A high radio-frequency "skull crucible" system is used, in which the melting zirconia powder actually creates the sides of its own container during its formation. Cooling this extremely hot molten ore becomes the most crucial step in the entire process. A carefully programmed cooling procedure is required to form the flawless crystals -- metal pipes in a coil-shape with water running through them are used to cool down the material, in the center.
CZ occurs naturally but in pieces too small for jewelry purposes. It wasn't until the 1970s however when Soviet scientists learned how to grow this mineral in the laboratory, at which time jewelry designers first took notice of cubic zirconia. For the first few years it was on the market it was often sold for as much as $20 per carat (!!) and was only available in a few colors.
CZ is more dense than diamond -- it weighs more for its size than diamond does. Sapphire and ruby, both of which are the same gemstone, just different colors, are also more dense than diamond. CZ is about 75% heavier than diamond. As such, a CZ's size is referred to in carats usually in comparison to diamonds. CZs are more accurately measured in millimeters, referring to the width of the stone. A 6.5 mm cubic zirconia is equal in size to a one-carat diamond and actually weighs about 1.75 carats.
CZ isn't grown/created like any other imitation gemstone in the world, either. A high radio-frequency "skull crucible" system is used, in which the melting zirconia powder actually creates the sides of its own container during its formation. Cooling this extremely hot molten ore becomes the most crucial step in the entire process. A carefully programmed cooling procedure is required to form the flawless crystals -- metal pipes in a coil-shape with water running through them are used to cool down the material, in the center.
CZ is often spoken of negatively because it is a synthetic gemstone. It is durable, very bright, can be grown in a varity of colors and when well cut it is a very convincing diamond substitute.
See related:
diamond
gold
platinum
bling
bling bling
jewelry
See related:
diamond
gold
platinum
bling
bling bling
jewelry
by Ryan Thompson September 25, 2004
Get the cubic zirconia mug.A term for Americanisms or inventions that are gradually disappearing, as described in the book "Going Going Gone: Vanishing Americana" by by Susan Jonas and Marilyn Nissenson.
Hood ornaments. Prank phone calls. Phonebooths with doors. Blue laws. Hitchiking. Men's clubs. Garter belts. The 'Red Menace'. Typewriters. Rotary telephones.
by Ryan Thompson January 6, 2004
Get the Vanishing Americana mug.An older gay male, usually over 35 or so, who hits on younger guys who aren't interested in him. When they tell him they aren't interested, the troll will often flip out and get angry. Trolls are not just something seen in chat rooms but can be found just about anywhere people hang out/gather. Many trolls are secretly into underage guys but don't talk about it unless they are talking to another troll who is into the same thing, or if they are talking one-on-one with an underage guy.
Some guys are perpetually undeservedly hit on by nothing but trolls. Just because I like classic rock doesn't mean I want to date somebody my dad's age. Get over it.
by Ryan Thompson July 6, 2004
Get the troll mug.A luxury car with a division window between the front and back seat, which can be raised and lowered by the occupants.
In America, limousines originally rolled off the assembly line as complete cars. They weren't super-stretched monsters. Around the late-1970s, early-1980s, companies began taking pre-existing cars (Cadillacs and Lincolns being the most popular choice) and stretching them by cutting them from one side to the other, between the front and rear doors, and 'filling in' in the middle.
In America, limousines originally rolled off the assembly line as complete cars. They weren't super-stretched monsters. Around the late-1970s, early-1980s, companies began taking pre-existing cars (Cadillacs and Lincolns being the most popular choice) and stretching them by cutting them from one side to the other, between the front and rear doors, and 'filling in' in the middle.
by Ryan Thompson January 10, 2005
Get the limousine mug.Sapphire is a type of corundum. It occurs in every color except red, because red corundum is ruby. It is actually more durable than diamond, even though diamond can't be scratched. Durability in this case refers to corundum's ability to withstand wear and tear.
Some sapphires grow in the earth in such a way that when they are cut cabochon style (which is basically a smooth, domed shape), they display a six-rayed star that moves around as the stone is moved around a fixed light source. This is refered to as "asterism".
Some sapphires grow in the earth in such a way that when they are cut cabochon style (which is basically a smooth, domed shape), they display a six-rayed star that moves around as the stone is moved around a fixed light source. This is refered to as "asterism".
The Rockefeller Sapphire, blue, 62 carats.
The Star of India, grayish blue, 563 cts.
The Star of Asia, blue, 330 carats.
The Stuart Sapphire, blue, 104 cts.
The Star of India, grayish blue, 563 cts.
The Star of Asia, blue, 330 carats.
The Stuart Sapphire, blue, 104 cts.
by Ryan Thompson January 7, 2004
Get the sapphire mug.(Using the word in a coherent, non-ebonics sentence) He called me up and told me he was ballin, but I later found out he was cheating on me.
by Ryan Thompson January 10, 2004
Get the ballin mug.