Lapis lazuli

//ˌlap.ɪs ˈlaz.jʊ.laɪ// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a deep, bright blue, like that of the stone.

    "I cannot convey to you the sheer and surreal scale of everything: the towering ship, the ropes, the ties, the anchor, the pier, the vast lapis lazuli dome of the sky."

Noun
  1. 1
    A deep blue stone, used in making jewelry, and traditionally used to make the pigment ultramarine. countable, uncountable

    "He saw the amber silk curtains wave to and fro: the middle window was open; in it stood a pillar of lapis lazuli, which supported an alabaster figure, Canova's Dansatrice."

  2. 2
    an azure blue semiprecious stone wordnet
  3. 3
    A deep, bright blue, like that of the stone. countable, uncountable

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English lapis lazuli, from Medieval Latin lapis (“stone”) + lazulī, genitive singular of lazulum (“lapis lazuli, azure, the sky”), from Arabic لَازُوَرْد (lāzuward, “lapis lazuli, azure”), from Persian لاجورد (lâjvard). Compare azure, of the same origin.

Etymology 2

From Middle English lapis lazuli, from Medieval Latin lapis (“stone”) + lazulī, genitive singular of lazulum (“lapis lazuli, azure, the sky”), from Arabic لَازُوَرْد (lāzuward, “lapis lazuli, azure”), from Persian لاجورد (lâjvard). Compare azure, of the same origin.

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