jasper

[ jas-per ]

/ ˈdʒæs pər /

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noun

a compact, opaque, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, usually colored red: often used in decorative carvings.

Also called jasper ware, cameo ware. a fine, hard stoneware introduced c1775 by Wedgwood, stained various colors by metallic oxides, with raised designs in white.

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Origin of jasper

1300–50; Middle English jaspe, jaspre<Middle French; Old French jaspe<Latin iaspis<Greek iáspis<Semitic; compare Arabic yashb

Words nearby jasper

jasmine, jasmine rice, jasmine tea, Jason, jaspé, jasper, Jasper National Park, Jaspers, jaspery, jass, jassid

Other definitions for jasper (2 of 3)

jasper²

[ jas-per ]

/ ˈdʒæs pər /

noun Older Slang.

a fellow; guy.

Origin of jasper

1895–1900, Americanism; special use of proper name Jasper

Other definitions for jasper (3 of 3)

Jasper

[ jas-per ]

/ ˈdʒæs pər /

noun

a city in NW Alabama.

a resort town in SW Alberta, in SW Canada, on the Athabasca River: headquarters for Jasper National Park.

a male given name, form of Caspar.

How to use jasper in a sentence

The annual bikepacking race takes on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which spans from Jasper, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, along the Rocky Mountains.
Quinn Brett Is the First Adaptive Cyclist to Complete the Tour Divide|agintzler|July 29, 2021|Outside Online
Domonique Brown’s Jasper and Layla Weiner’s Amber characters were particularly welcome additions.
Atypical Fell Short as Both Autistic Representation and Entertainment. At Least It Was Eclipsed During Its Own Time|Sarah Kurchak|July 16, 2021|Time
Offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper called Forney “a big, gentle teddy bear” who always had a way of making tough situations better.
Ten months after his death, David Forney’s number will be worn again at the Army-Navy game|Kareem Copeland|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
Locals say either of the counties’ two main cities — Covington in Newton, Monticello in Jasper — could be mistaken for Mayberry.
In neighboring Georgia counties, election revealed a growing divide that mirrors the nation|Haisten Willis, Griff Witte|November 30, 2020|Washington Post

Tim Krul, the substitute goalie, seemed a good foot taller than Jasper Cillessen, the man he replaced, and much the more daunting.
Costa Rica vs. the Netherlands: A Tale of Two Goalies|Tunku Varadarajan|July 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jasper Johns stands tall like a figure from The Great Gatsby in a casual suit.
Dennis Hopper: The Missing Years|Liza Foreman|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jasper Johns: Regrets is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York until September 1, 2014.
Jasper Johns: The Secrets of a Master at Work|Justin Jones|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“A growl and a shake,” the attorney, Jasper Monti, tells The Daily Beast.
Woman Bites Her Dog, Illinois Police Say, Charging Analise Garner With the Assault|Michael Daly|May 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
One justification is that Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel was the real deal.
Jack and Jill: Cocktails Inspired From Film|Brody Brown|November 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And I will make thy bulwarks of jasper: and thy gates of graven stones, and all thy borders of desirable stones.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Red, somewhat slaty jasper, mixed with quartz and chalcedony, and containing specular iron ore.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
Hurry and shave, you know how smooth Jasper Jones' chin always looks, and then straighten up this room.
Time Enough at Last|Lyn Venable
Among those who were taking their ease at this suburban inn was Jasper Goodrum, one of my comrades.
A Little Union Scout|Joel Chandler Harris
Hard sandstone, trap or graacke, jasper and chalcedony, appear occasionally; some almost transparent.
The Indian in his Wigwam|Henry R. Schoolcraft

British Dictionary definitions for jasper

jasper

/ (ˈdʒæspə) /

noun

an opaque impure microcrystalline form of quartz, red, yellow, brown, or dark green in colour, used as a gemstone and for ornamental decoration

Also called: jasper ware a dense hard stoneware, invented in 1775 by Wedgwood, capable of being stained throughout its substance with metallic oxides and used as background for applied classical decoration

Word Origin for jasper

C14: from Old French jaspe, from Latin jaspis, from Greek iaspis, of Semitic origin; related to Assyrian ashpū, Arabic yashb, Hebrew yāshpheh

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

Scientific definitions for jasper

jasper

[ jăs′pər ]

A reddish, brown, or yellow variety of chert. Jasper usually occurs in association with iron ores and contains iron impurities that give it its color.