lapis lazuli
Americannoun
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a deep-blue mineral composed mainly of lazurite with smaller quantities of other minerals, used mainly as a gem or as a pigment.
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a sky-blue color; azure.
noun
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a brilliant blue variety of the mineral lazurite, used as a gemstone
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the deep blue colour of lapis lazuli
Etymology
Origin of lapis lazuli
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin, equivalent to Latin lapis “stone” + Medieval Latin lazulī, genitive of lazulum “lapis lazuli”; azure
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The boy king's gold-covered sarcophagus and his burial mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, will take centre stage at Saturday's opening.
From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025
It is made of silver, lapis lazuli, malachite and pink coral.
From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2024
The gothic-style brooch — composed of silver, lapis lazuli, malachite and coral — is now by far the most prized piece in her modest collection.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2024
Minor treasures include beads made of the semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli.
From BBC • Oct. 5, 2023
In Maria’s time, the best blue paint powder was made from ground lapis lazuli, a semiprecious stone, which produced a beautiful clear blue but was also very expensive.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
