azure

[ azh-er ]

adjective

1. of or having a light, purplish shade of blue, like that of a clear and unclouded sky.
2. Heraldry. of the tincture or color blue.

noun

1. the blue of a clear or unclouded sky.
2. a light, purplish blue.
3. Heraldry. the tincture or color blue.
4. the clear, cloudless sky.

azure

/ ˈæʒə; ˈeɪ-; -ʒʊə /

noun

1. a deep blue, occasionally somewhat purple, similar to the colour of a clear blue sky
2. poetic.
   a clear blue sky

adjective

1. of the colour azure; serene
2. usually postpositive heraldry of the colour blue

Word History and Origins

Origin of azure¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English asure, from Anglo-French, Old French, ultimately alteration of Arabic al-lazuwar(d) (by misdividing the initial l together with the article), from Persian lāzhuward “lapis lazuli,” perhaps from Sanskrit rājāvarta

Word History and Origins

Origin of azure¹

C14: from Old French azur, from Old Spanish, from Arabic lāzaward lapis lazuli, from Persian lāzhuward

Example Sentences

Mauve mountain peaks jut into the azure sky at the horizon.

From BBC

It’s made of blue, I don’t know what it is, azure of some kind, and gold, and that’s going to be the face of the watch.

From Los Angeles Times

But away from the azure coastline and sapphire-tinged urban centers, the state remains a battleground for several seats in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

He and his team found that both worlds are in fact a similar shade of greenish blue, despite the commonly-held belief that Neptune is a deep azure and Uranus has a pale cyan appearance.

From Science Daily

People in plastic swim bands and floaties pack like sardines in the azure water.

From Seattle Times