Adjacent Words

lapis lazuli definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an azure blue semiprecious stone [syn: lapis lazuli, lazuli]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin lapis + Medieval Latin lazuli, genitive of lazulum lapis lazuli, from Arabic l?zaward — more at azure Date: 15th century a semiprecious stone that is usually rich azure blue and is essentially a complex silicate often with spangles of pyrites — called also lapis

Britannica Concise

Semiprecious stone valued for its deep blue color caused by the presence of the mineral lazurite, which is the source of the pigment ultramarine. Lapis lazuli is not a single mineral but an intergrowth lazurite with calcite, pyroxene, and commonly small grains of pyrite. The most important mines are in Afghanistan and Chile. Much of what is sold as lapis is an artificially dyed jasper from Germany that shows colorless specks of clear, crystallized quartz and never the goldlike flecks of pyrite that are characteristic of lapis lazuli and have been compared to stars in the sky.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a blue mineral containing sodium aluminium silicate and sulphur, used as a gemstone. 2 a bright blue pigment formerly made from this. 3 its colour. Etymology: ME f. L lapis stone + med.L lazuli genit. of lazulum f. Pers. (as AZURE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lapis lazuli La"pis laz"u*li (Min.) An albuminous mineral of a rich blue color. Same as Lazuli, which see.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Lazuli Laz"u*li, n.[F. & NL. lapis lazuli, LL. lazulus, lazurius, lazur from the same Oriental source as E. azure. See Azure.] (Min.) A mineral of a fine azure-blue color, usually in small rounded masses. It is essentially a silicate of alumina, lime, and soda, with some sodium sulphide, is often marked by yellow spots or veins of sulphide of iron, and is much valued for ornamental work. Called also lapis lazuli, and Armenian stone.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Lapis lazuli is a bright blue stone, used especially in making jewellery.