Adjacent Words

Topaz definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TO'PAZ, n. [Gr.] A mineral, said to be so called from Topazos, a small isle in the Arabic gulf, where the Romans obtained a stone which they called by this name, but which is the chrysolite of the moderns. The topaz is of a yellowish color. It sometimes occurs in masses, but more generally crystallized in rectangular octahedrons. Topaz is valued as a gem or precious stone, and is used in jewelry. It consists of silex, fluoric acid and alumin, in the following proportions; alumin 57 parts, silex 34, and fluoric acid 7 or 8.
Of topaz there are three subspecies, common topaz, shorlite and physalite.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a yellow quartz [syn: topaz, false topaz, common topaz]
2: a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals of various colors and is used as a gemstone
3: a light brown the color of topaz [syn: tan, topaz]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English topace, from Anglo-French, from Latin topazus, from Greek topazos Date: 13th century 1. a. a mineral that is essentially a silicate of aluminum and usually occurs in orthorhombic translucent or transparent crystals or in white translucent masses b. a usually yellow to brownish-yellow transparent mineral topaz used as a gem c. a yellow sapphire d. a yellow quartz 2. either of two large brilliantly colored South American hummingbirds (Topaza pella and T. pyra)

Britannica Concise

Aluminum silicate mineral, Al2SiO4(F,OH)2, that is valued as a gemstone. It is formed by fluorine-bearing vapors given off during the last stages of the crystallization of igneous rocks. Pure topaz may be colorless and, when brilliant-cut, has been mistaken for diamond. It may also be various shades of yellow, blue, or brown. Imperial topaz, with vivid reddish orange color, from Minas Gerais, Brazil, is very highly valued.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a transparent or translucent aluminium silicate mineral, usu. yellow, used as a gem. 2 any South American humming-bird of the genus Topaza. Etymology: ME f. OF topace, topaze f. L topazus f. Gk topazos

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Topaz To"paz, n. [OE. topas, F. topaze, L. topazos, or topazion, a kind of precious stone, Gr. to`pazos, topa`zion; possibly akin to Skr. tap to glow (cf. Tepid). According to some, the name is from Topazos, a small island in the Red Sea, where the Romans obtained a stone which they called by this name, but which is the chrysolite of the moderns.] 1. (Min.) A mineral occurring in rhombic prisms, generally yellowish and pellucid, also colorless, and of greenesh, bluish, or brownish shades. It sometimes occurs massive and opaque. It is a fluosilicate of alumina, and is used as a gem. 2. (Zo["o]l.)Either one of two species of large, brilliantly colored humming birds of the Topaza, of South America and the West Indies. Note: The two tail feathers next to the central ones are much longer that the rest, curved, and crossed. The Throat is metallic yellowish-green, with a tint like topaz in the center, the belly is bright crimson, the back bright red. Called also topaz hummer. False topaz. (Min.) See the Note under Quartz.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(topazes) A topaz is a precious stone which is usually yellowish-brown in colour. N-VAR

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heb. pitdah (Ezek. 28:13; Rev. 21:20), a golden yellow or "green" stone brought from Cush or Ethiopia (Job 28:19). It was the second stone in the first row in the breastplate of the high priest, and had the name of Simeon inscribed on it (Ex. 28:17). It is probably the chrysolite of the moderns.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

to'-paz.

See STONES, PRECIOUS.