sapphire

[ saf-ahyuhr ]

/ ˈsæf aɪər /

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noun

any gem variety of corundum other than the ruby, especially one of the blue varieties.

a gem of this kind.

the color of this gem, a deep blue.

adjective

resembling sapphire; deep blue:a sapphire sky.

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Origin of sapphire

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English saphir(e), saph(i)er, from Old French safir(e), saffir, saffer, from Latin sapphīrus, sappīrus, from Greek sáppheiros, perhaps “lapis lazuli, lazurite, sapphire,” probably from Semitic (compare Hebrew sappīr, and probably a loanword in Semitic); sappīr and related Semitic forms perhaps come from Sanskrit śanipuriya “dear to (the planet) Saturn,” equivalent to Śani “(the planet) Saturn” + priyá- “dear”; further origin uncertain

Words nearby sapphire

sappanwood, sapper, Sapphic, Sapphic ode, Sapphira, sapphire, sapphirine, sapphism, Sappho, Sapporo, sappy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT SAPPHIRE

What does sapphire mean?

Sapphire is a transparent gemstone known for its deep-blue variety.

Sapphire belongs to the corundum family of minerals. Sapphires come in a variety of colors (including completely clear), but if a color is not specified, the word sapphire usually refers to the blue kind. This is the most well-known and is classified as a precious gem, meaning that it has a high commercial value. Some varieties of sapphire, like the one known as star sapphire, are considered even more valuable.

Sapphire is popular in jewelry. It is one of the birthstones for the month of September. It is associated with the zodiac sign of Taurus.

Some sapphires are synthetic, meaning they are manufactured, as opposed to being formed naturally. Due to its hardness, synthetic sapphire is used in a variety of practical applications, including as a material to make windows, lasers, and circuits. It is sometimes used as an abrasive, which is a material used for grinding and polishing.

The word sapphire is also sometimes used to refer to a deep-blue color.

Example: If I had the money, I’d buy that deep-blue sapphire ring.

Where does sapphire come from?

The first records of the word sapphire come from around the 1200s. It comes from the Greek sáppheiros, which may have referred to lapis lazuli, lazurite, or sapphire itself. The earlier Semitic form sappīr may come from the Sanskrit śanipuriya, meaning “dear to (the planet) Saturn.”

Sapphire occurs in many igneous rocks and is a variety of the mineral corundum, which is a form of aluminum oxide and is one of the hardest known substances. The red variety of corundum is known as a ruby, another precious gemstone. The blue coloring of sapphire is due to small amounts of iron and titanium.

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

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

How is sapphire used in real life?

Sapphires are among the most popular and well-known gemstones. They’re especially known for their use in jewelry. Because the blue variety is so well-known, the word sapphire is also used to refer to that color.

This 2,000 years-old sapphire ring presumably belonged to Roman emperor Caligula. It's very likely that it depicts his fourth wife, Caesonia. pic.twitter.com/TNnftr7lrb

— Marina Amaral (@marinamaral2) August 17, 2021

This group of asteriated gems include star sapphire, star ruby, star white sapphire and star purplish pink sapphire from Sri Lanka. Star corundum with crisp centered stars and high transparency like these are incredibly rare! Courtesy: Rafco International pic.twitter.com/zyhSH4JhBA

— GIA (@GIAnews) July 26, 2020

Yesterday I bought this really pretty sapphire blue eyeliner at Ulta and today I found the matching mascara and I’m TOO EXCITED 😍💙💙

— Medinaaa🦷✨ (@wala_medina) February 24, 2021

Try using sapphire!

True or False?

Sapphires and rubies are different varieties of the same mineral.

How to use sapphire in a sentence

As the largest of the Great Lakes, the sapphire blue waters and waves of Lake Superior can often feel like a vast, unending ocean to a passing motorist.
The Best Scenic Drive in Every State|eriley|August 26, 2021|Outside Online
What you are getting is TAG Heuer design and materials, like a steel watch body and a superhard sapphire touchscreen.
The $2,000 Super Mario smartwatch you’ve always wanted is here|Ron Amadeo|July 14, 2021|Ars Technica
If you’re looking for those sapphire-hued lake vistas, you’ll want to leash up your pooch and take them for a stroll along the park’s quarter-mile paved promenade at Rim Village.
The Most Dog-Friendly National Parks in the U.S.|Emily Pennington|May 7, 2021|Outside Online
Something about the impossibly deep sapphire water carries an almost mystical quality that grabs you by the retinas and doesn’t let go.
Otherworldly Adventure at Crater Lake National Park|Emily Pennington|March 24, 2021|Outside Online

My partner and I rented a houseboat, loaded up on groceries, and were soon cruising around a vast expanse of sapphire water flecked with small islands.
Staring Down Fear in Voyageurs National Park|Emily Pennington|January 28, 2021|Outside Online
One Sapphire, Kay, falls for a black soldier, even as she struggles with her Aboriginal identity.
‘The Sapphires’: Tony Briggs and His Mum on Racism in Australia, Music & More|Jean Trinh|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
His highly acclaimed, and highly controversial, 2009 film, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, is a case in point.
Lee Daniels: Cannes Film Festival’s Mischief Maker|Richard Porton|May 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“In my original notes I had that Precious would have a baby girl, then here comes this boy,” Sapphire says with a laugh.
Precious' Son Returns in New Sapphire Novel|Jennie Yabroff|July 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Sapphire says that had she not already finished much of The Kid, the criticism would have “stopped me dead in my tracks.”
Precious' Son Returns in New Sapphire Novel|Jennie Yabroff|July 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST
“The logical or realistic way this story would end up would be total disaster,” says Sapphire.
Precious' Son Returns in New Sapphire Novel|Jennie Yabroff|July 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST
If you want to make a synthetic sapphire, you start with a seed sapphire, and the artificial process builds up on that.
Nine Men in Time|Noel Miller Loomis
Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Sometimes sky and sea have been steeped in dazzling haze of golden glare, sometimes brightened to blue of a sapphire depth.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science|Various
She was sitting on a low divan, head bent, slowly turning a sapphire ring on her finger, round and round.
In Search of the Unknown|Robert W. Chambers
We proceeded moderately and sedately upon our shining way, skirting the sapphire sea, dotted here and there with green islands.
Italian Days and Ways|Anne Hollingsworth Wharton

British Dictionary definitions for sapphire

sapphire

/ (ˈsæfaɪə) /

noun

any precious corundum gemstone that is not red, esp the highly valued transparent blue variety. A synthetic form is used in electronics and precision apparatus. Formula: Al 2 O 3
(as modifier)a sapphire ring

the blue colour of sapphire
(as adjective)sapphire eyes

Word Origin for sapphire

C13 safir, from Old French, from Latin sapphīrus, from Greek sappheiros, perhaps from Hebrew sappīr, ultimately perhaps from Sanskrit śanipriya, literally: beloved of the planet Saturn, from śani Saturn + priya beloved

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 sapphire

sapphire

[ săf′īr′ ]

A clear, fairly pure form of the mineral corundum that is usually blue but may be any color except red. It often contains small amounts of oxides of cobalt, chromium, and titanium and is valued as a gem. Compare ruby.

sapphire

Origin of sapphire

Words nearby sapphire

MORE ABOUT SAPPHIRE

What does sapphire mean?

Where does sapphire come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is sapphire used in real life?

Try using sapphire!

Words related to sapphire

How to use sapphire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sapphire

Word Origin for sapphire

Scientific definitions for sapphire