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sapphire

noun
/ˈsæf.aɪ̯ə/UK/ˈsæf.aɪ̯əɹ/US

Etymology

From Middle English saphir, from Old French saphir, from Latin sapphir, sappir, sapphīrus, from Ancient Greek σάπφειρος (sáppheiros, “precious stone, gem”), from a Semitic language such as Hebrew סַפִּיר (sappī́r, “lapis lazuli”), originally from Assyrian Akkadian šipirtu (“lapis lazuli”).

  1. derived from σάπφειρος
  2. derived from sapphir
  3. derived from saphir
  4. inherited from saphir

Definitions

  1. A clear deep blue variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.

    • Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade.

  2. A white, yellow, or purple variety of corundum, either clear or translucent.

  3. A deep blue colour.

  4. ›+ 8 more definitions

    1. Azure, when blazoning by precious stones.

      • Elgin. Topaz a Saltier and Chief Ruby, on a Canton Pearl a Lyon Rampant Saphyr, which last is their paternal Coat; […]
      • 3. Saphire, ten Bezants, 4, 3, 2, 1, by the Bisset.
      • (2) Topaz, a Chief Indented, Saphire.

    2. Any hummingbird in the genera Hylocharis and Chlorestes, as well as the rufous-throated…

      Any hummingbird in the genera Hylocharis and Chlorestes, as well as the rufous-throated sapphire, which is now in the genus Amazilia.

    3. Any of the butterflies in the southern Asian lycaenid genus Heliophorus or the African…

      Any of the butterflies in the southern Asian lycaenid genus Heliophorus or the African lycaenid genus Iolaus.

    4. of a deep blue colour.

      • At about eleven, we uncaged our pigeons, who flew away into the sapphire sky that hung like a sail from the white peaks.
      • They awoke to panoramic views of a national park's tropical forests, the Gulf of Paria's shallows and the Caribbean's sparkling sapphire waters.

    5. pertaining to a 45th year

    6. A female given name from English from the precious stone.

    7. A locality in the Inverell council area, north eastern New South Wales, Australia.

    8. A stereotype of an aggressive and domineering black woman.

      • When black women speak up about indignities, they are Sapphires. When black women stand up for their rights, they are Sapphires.
      • Described as feisty wenches, seductive Jezebels, or loud and angry Sapphires, Black women's public persona has long been dominated by these images.

The neighborhood

Derived

blue-chinned sapphire, blue-throated sapphire, Padparadscha sapphire, pink sapphire, Sapphire Beach, sapphireberry, sapphired, sapphire glass, sapphirelike, sapphiric, sapphirine, sea sapphire, star sapphire, water sapphire, white sapphire, yellow sapphire, sapphire anniversary, sapphire jubilee

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for sapphire. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA