aquamarine

noun

aqua·​ma·​rine ˌä-kwə-mə-ˈrēn How to pronounce aquamarine (audio)
ˌa-
1
: a transparent blue, blue-green, or green variety of beryl used as a gem
2
: a pale blue to light greenish blue

Did you know?

Aquamarine Has Latin Roots

Aqua marina * is Latin for "seawater", so when a lovely blue-green form of the semiprecious gem known as beryl was given an English name several centuries ago, *aquamarine seemed appropriate. Aquamarine is the ideal color that most of us carry around in our heads when we imagine the waters that lap the shores of the Greek and Caribbean islands on a sunny day. But even the Mediterranean and the Caribbean can take on lots of other colors depending on weather conditions.

Examples of aquamarine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some faceted, or cut, aquamarines can be as clear as water. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 Louis Vuitton Deep Time Drift necklace and ring in 18-karat white gold set with aquamarine and diamonds; Givenchy polyester button coat, $4,200; Dries Van Noten polyester and cotton bra, $250; R13 cotton crossover jeans, $495. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 2 Dec. 2023 On the ceiling, a fresh coat of glossy white paint reflects aquamarine from a saltwater pool set into the front deck. Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2023 The Earth Art ring showcases the bounty of our plant, with a central aquamarine representing blue skies, surrounded by colored tsavorites, garnets and sapphires. Kate Matthams, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 Thick foliage creeps from all directions, an oppressive garland of tropical fronds in electric, icey aquamarine; veins of blood-purple snake throughout. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023 Meanwhile, the Starfish necklace is an orgy of gemstones crafted in 18k gold, including more than 42 carats of black opals as well as aquamarines, tourmalines, beryls, and diamonds. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2023 Similarly, the subtle palette of beige and ivory is juxtaposed with splashes of aquamarine. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 June 2023 The Queen was gifted a dazzling aquamarine and diamond necklace and earrings from the president of Brazil in honor of her coronation in 1953, and the tiara made the parure complete. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aquamarine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin aqua marina, from Latin, sea water

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aquamarine was in 1677

Dictionary Entries Near aquamarine

Cite this Entry

“Aquamarine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aquamarine. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aquamarine

noun
aqua·​ma·​rine ˌak-wə-mə-ˈrēn How to pronounce aquamarine (audio)
ˌäk-
1
: a transparent beryl that is blue, blue-green, or green
2
: a pale blue to light greenish blue

More from Merriam-Webster on aquamarine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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