HOW TO PRONOUNCE
sapphire
/ˈsæf.aɪ̯əɹ/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does sapphire mean?
noun
- A clear deep blue variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
- A white, yellow, or purple variety of corundum, either clear or translucent.
- A deep blue colour.
More meanings (8)
noun
- Azure, when blazoning by precious stones.
- Any hummingbird in the genera Hylocharis and Chlorestes, as well as the rufous-throated sapphire, which is now in the genus Amazilia.
- Any of the butterflies in the southern Asian lycaenid genus Heliophorus or the African lycaenid genus Iolaus.
- A stereotype of an aggressive and domineering black woman.
adjective
- of a deep blue colour.
- pertaining to a 45th year
proper noun
- A female given name from English from the precious stone.
- A locality in the Inverell council area, north eastern New South Wales, Australia.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈsæf.aɪ̯əɹ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
On one occasion there was offered to me a beautiful ring containing a large sapphire encircled by twenty diamonds.
Others who tried to stop them were shown the star sapphire, and threatened with "sorcery, death, wild beasts," and other unpleasantnesses.
More book examples (3)
Deep down in a shaft, or in an ice-cavern, the sapphire reflection gives to the human face quite a ghastly pallor.
Of a sudden, aslant the road, A brightness to dazzle and stun, A glint of the bluest blue, A flash from a sapphire sun.
“Just hand over that sapphire cross of yours, will you? We’re all alone here, and I could pull you to pieces like a straw doll.”