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sapphire Definition

sap·phire (safīr)

noun

  1. a clear, deep-blue variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone
  2. its color
    1. a translucent or transparent variety of corundum, varying in color
    2. a gem made of this white, yellow, and purple sapphires

Etymology: ME < OFr saphir < L sapphirus < Gr sappheiros < Heb sapir < Sans śanipriya, lit., dear to Saturn < Śaniḥ, Saturn (the planet) + priya, beloved < IE *prī-, var. of base *prēi-, to love > friend

adjective

deep-blue

sapphire Synonyms

sapphire

modif.

sapphirine, greenish-blue, deep blue; see blue 1.

sapphire Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • include: Continuous recording models are available with 1, 2, or 3 channels; they include high quality sapphire tipped pens for long life.
  • set: Sier looks at deep blue sapphire - Sier sets the large sapphire in his mouth, swallowing it with difficulty Sier looks at Sier.
  • use: Over 2000 years ago the Romans were using sapphires, emeralds, garnets, and amber in their jewelry.
  • produce: Sapphire males with sapphire pearl females have produced nice sapphires and sapphire pearls.
  • call: Blue or any other color of corundum is usually called sapphire.

Adjective modifier

  • pink: Colored stones such as these pink sapphires look very pretty.
  • blue: Jolen looks at deep blue sapphire - Jolen flits his wings a few times.
  • yellow: Set in 18ct. white gold are diamonds, pink tourmaline, yellow sapphire, blue topaz and tanzanite!
  • deep: Jolen looks at deep blue sapphire - Jolen flits his wings a few times.
  • synthetic: Synthetic sapphire can be used to simulate alexandrite ( not very convincingly ), but can never simulate sapphire because it is sapphire.
  • resistant: The crown is screwed down and the crystal is scratch resistant sapphire.

Modifies a noun

  • crystal: Sapphire crystal, date window at the 3 position.
  • substrate: Here, crystallites of large size have ' seeded ' themselves on scratches in the sapphire substrate.
  • ring: From the start she was keen to tell me of an incident that preceded the loss of a valuable sapphire ring.
  • sky: Played in early October, the tournament was frequently played under the sapphire skies of a St Andrews autumn.
  • sea: The calm, clear, sapphire sea on the eastern side contrasts with the famous windsurfing beaches on the western side of the island.
  • blue: Sapphire blue glazed bricks line the curved frontage of the main Lawrence Batley Stand, offset by yellow window details.

Noun used with modifier

  • crystal: Its bezel is standard plain stainless steel with a crystal sapphire.
  • cut: This ring consists of an unusual princess cut sapphire of a lovely rich blue color.
  • bombay: The heart of guy pitting on pays only for bombay sapphire had.
sapphire Quotes

A livelier emerald twinkles in the grass, A purer sapphire melts into the sea. 845

—Tennyson

Browse dictionary entries near sapphire

  1. Sapphira
  2. Sapphic
  3. sapper
  4. sappanwood
  5. sapote
  6. sapota
  7. sapor
  8. saponite
  9. saponin
  10. saponify
  1. sapphirine
  2. Sapphism
  3. Sappho
  4. Sapporo
  5. sappy
  6. sapremia
  7. sapro-
  8. saprobic
  9. saprogenic
  10. saprolite