Definition

1. Noun:

   • A precious gemstone: A sapphire is a transparent, typically blue, precious stone, a variety of the mineral corundum.
   • A piece of this gem: A cut and polished sapphire used in jewelry.
   • A shade of blue: A rich, deep blue color resembling that of the gemstone.

2. Adjective:

   • Having the color of a blue sapphire: Describing something that is a rich, deep blue.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Gemstone):
  • Her engagement ring features a large sapphire.
  • Sapphires are often found in shades of blue, but they can be other colors too.
• Noun (Color):
  • The artist used a beautiful sapphire for the ocean in the painting.
• Adjective:
  • We sailed on the sapphire waters of the Mediterranean.
  • She gazed up at the sapphire sky.

Advanced Usage

• "Star sapphire": A type of sapphire that exhibits a star-shaped pattern (asterism) when viewed under a direct light source.
  • The antique brooch contained a rare star sapphire.
• Used poetically or in literature to describe something of great beauty or value, often with a blue hue.
  • His words were as precious as sapphires.

Variants and Related Words

• Sapphirine (adjective): Resembling sapphire, especially in color.
  • The lake had a sapphirine glow at dusk.

Synonyms

• Noun (Gem): gemstone, jewel, corundum (specific mineral type).
• Noun/Adjective (Color): azure, cobalt, cerulean, navy.

Related Phrases

• "Sapphire anniversary": A 45th wedding anniversary, for which sapphire is the traditional gift.
  • They celebrated their sapphire anniversary with a trip.
• "Sapphire blue": A common compound term specifying the exact shade of blue.
  • She painted her room a stunning sapphire blue. (Note: This is a compound term listed here as a related phrase, not as the core definition of "sapphire").

Related Idioms

• While not a common standalone idiom, "sapphire" is used in descriptive idioms implying great value, clarity, or beauty.
  • Eyes like sapphires (meaning very blue and bright eyes).
  • A heart of sapphire (poetic, suggesting something precious yet potentially cold or hard).

Adjective

1. of something having the color of a blue sapphire
   • sapphire eyes

Noun

1. a light shade of blue
2. a transparent piece of sapphire that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
3. a precious transparent stone of rich blue corundum valued as a gemstone