topaz

[ toh-paz ]

noun

1. a mineral, a fluosilicate of aluminum, usually occurring in prismatic orthorhombic crystals of various colors, and used as a gem.
2. citrine ( def 2 ).
3. 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.

topaz

/ ˈtəʊpæz /

noun

1. 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
2. oriental topaz
   a yellowish-brown variety of sapphire
3. false topaz
   another name for citrine
4. 1. a yellowish-brown colour, as in some varieties of topaz
   2. ( as adjective )

      topaz eyes

5. either of two South American hummingbirds, Topaza pyra and T. pella

topaz

/ tō′păz′ /

1. 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: Al 2 SiO 4 (F,OH) 2 .
2. Any of various yellow gemstones, especially a yellow variety of sapphire or corundum.

Other Word Forms

• to·paz·ine [toh, -p, uh, -zeen, -zin], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of topaz¹

1225–75; < Latin topazus < Greek tópazos; replacing Middle English topace < Old French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of topaz¹

C13: from Old French topaze, from Latin topazus, from Greek topazos

Example Sentences

The crown glitters with stones including tourmalines, white and yellow topazes, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, peridot, zircons, spinel and aquamarines.

From Seattle Times

It’s set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines.

From Seattle Times

Weighing five pounds, with a velvet cap and band of ermine fur, the crown includes a dazzling array of rubies, amethysts, sapphires, topazes, tourmalines and garnet.

From Salon

The St Edward's Crown, made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, follows its original medieval forebear in having four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis.

From Reuters

There are also pink opals, pink malaya garnets, pink topaz.

From Seattle Times