topaz
[ toh-paz ]
/ ˈtoʊ pæz /
noun
a mineral, a fluosilicate of aluminum, usually occurring in prismatic orthorhombic crystals of various colors, and used as a gem.
either of two South American hummingbirds, Topaza pella or T. pyra, having chiefly red and crimson plumage and a yellowish-green throat with a topaz sheen.
Origin of topaz
1225–75; < Latin
topazus < Greek
tópazos; replacing Middle English
topace < Old French < Latin, as above
OTHER WORDS FROM topaz
to·paz·ine [toh-puh-zeen, -zin] /ˈtoʊ pəˌzin, -zɪn/, adjectiveWords nearby topaz
top-up card,
topagnosia,
topagnosis,
topalgia,
toparch,
topaz,
topaz quartz,
topazolite,
topcastle,
topcoat,
tope
Example sentences from the Web for topaz
British Dictionary definitions for topaz
topaz
/ (ˈtəʊpæz) /
noun
a white or colourless mineral often tinted by impurities, found in cavities in igneous rocks and in quartz veins. It is used as a gemstone. Composition: hydrated aluminium silicate. Formula: Al 2 SiO 4 (F,OH) 2 . Crystal structure: orthorhombic
oriental topaz
a yellowish-brown variety of sapphire
false topaz another name for citrine
- a yellowish-brown colour, as in some varieties of topaz
- (as adjective)topaz eyes
either of two South American hummingbirds, Topaza pyra and T. pella
Word Origin for topaz
C13: from Old French
topaze, from Latin
topazus, from Greek
topazos
Scientific definitions for topaz
topaz
[ tō′păz′ ]
A colorless, blue, yellow, brown, or pink orthorhombic mineral valued as a gem. Topaz occurs as transparent or translucent prisms in silica-rich igneous rocks, such as pegmatite, and in tin-bearing rock veins. Chemical formula: Al2SiO4(F,OH)2.
Any of various yellow gemstones, especially a yellow variety of sapphire or corundum.