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topazine

 - 3 dictionary results

to⋅paz

  [toh-paz]
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–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.
Origin:
1225–75; < L topazus < Gk tópazos; r. ME topace < OF < L, as above

Related forms:
to⋅paz⋅ine  [toh-puh-zeen, -zin] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

topaz 
colored crystalline gem, c.1272, from O.Fr. topace (11c.), from L. topazus, from Gk. topazos, topazion, of obscure origin. Pliny says it was named for an island in the Red or Arabian Sea, where it was mined; linguists conjecture a connection with Skt. tapas "heat, fire."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Science Dictionary
topaz   (tō'pāz')  Pronunciation Key 

  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: Al2SiO4(F,OH)2.

  2. Any of various yellow gemstones, especially a yellow variety of sapphire or corundum.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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