lapidary

[ lap-i-der-ee ]
See synonyms for lapidary on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural lap·i·dar·ies.
  1. Also lap·i·dist [lap-i-dist]. /ˈlæp ɪ dɪst/. a worker who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones.

  2. Also la·pid·ar·ist [luh-pid-er-ist]. /ləˈpɪd ər ɪst/. an expert in precious stones and the art or techniques used in cutting and engraving them.

  1. the art of cutting, polishing, and engraving precious stones.

  2. an old book on the lore of gems.

adjectiveAlso lap·i·dar·i·an [lap-i-dair-ee-uhn]. /ˌlæp ɪˈdɛər i ən/.
  1. of or relating to the cutting or engraving of precious stones.

  2. characterized by an exactitude and extreme refinement that suggests gem cutting: a lapidary style; lapidary verse.

  1. of, relating to, or suggestive of inscriptions on stone monuments.

Origin of lapidary

1
1325–75; Middle English lapidarie (noun) <Latin lapidārius of stone (adj.), stone-cutter (noun), equivalent to lapid- (stem of lapis) stone + -ārius-ary

Words Nearby lapidary

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How to use lapidary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lapidary

lapidary

/ (ˈlæpɪdərɪ) /


nounplural -daries
  1. a person whose business is to cut, polish, set, or deal in gemstones

adjective
  1. of or relating to gemstones or the work of a lapidary

  2. Also: lapidarian (ˌlæpɪˈdɛərɪən) engraved, cut, or inscribed in a stone or gemstone

  1. of sufficiently high quality to be engraved on a stone: a lapidary inscription

Origin of lapidary

1
C14: from Latin lapidārius, from lapid-, lapis stone

Derived forms of lapidary

  • lapidarian, adjective

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