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aquamarine

[ ak-wuh-muh-reen, ah-kwuh- ]
/ ˌék wə məˈrin, ˌɑ kwə- /
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See synonyms for: aquamarine / aquamarines on Thesaurus.com
noun
a transparent, light-blue or greenish-blue variety of beryl, used as a gem.
light blue-green or greenish blue.
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Origin of aquamarine

First recorded in 1590–1600, aquamarine is from Latin aqua marīna “sea water” (named from its color). See aqua, marine

Words nearby aquamarine

aquafarm, aquafitness, aqua fortis, Aqua-Lung, aquamanile, aquamarine, aquanaut, aquaphobia, aquaplane, aquaponics, aquaporin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT AQUAMARINE

What does aquamarine mean?

Aquamarine is a light-blue or greenish-blue transparent gemstone.

It is a variety of the mineral beryl. The color of aquamarine can resemble pale blue or blue-green sea water—which is what gives it its name. The word aquamarine is also used to refer to such a color, as in The beautiful aquamarine dress stood out among the other muted tones.

Aquamarine is considered a semiprecious gemstone, which is a label applied to a class of gems that have a commercial value that’s less than that of stones labeled precious, such as diamonds.

Aquamarine is one of the birthstones for the month of March, the other being bloodstone. It is associated with the zodiac sign Pisces.

Example: My girlfriend bought me a beautiful aquamarine ring as a way to remember our time snorkeling in the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean.

Where does aquamarine come from?

The first records of the word aquamarine come from the 1590s. It comes from the Latin aqua marīna, meaning “sea water.”

Aquamarine is a variety of beryl, which is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminum silicate. It’s found in coarse granites and igneous rocks, which results in the formation of large, clear crystals. Emerald is also a variety of beryl, but it is considered a precious gem.

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What are some words that share a root or word element with aquamarine? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing aquamarine?

How is aquamarine used in real life?

Most people know aquamarine as the sea-colored gemstone that’s used as a birthstone for March. The word can also be used to describe things with such a color.

Try using aquamarine!

True or False?

Aquamarine is traditionally considered a semiprecious gem.

Words related to aquamarine

blue-green, olive, apple, beryl, chartreuse, fir, forest, grass, jade, kelly, lime, malachite, moss, pea, peacock, pine, sage, sap, sea, spinach

How to use aquamarine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aquamarine

aquamarine
/ (ˌékwəməˈriːn) /
noun
a pale greenish-blue transparent variety of beryl used as a gemstone
  1. a pale blue to greenish-blue colour
  2. (as adjective)an aquamarine dress

Word Origin for aquamarine

C19: from New Latin aqua marīna, from Latin: sea water (referring to the gem's colour)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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