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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. 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
    1. a yellowish-brown colour, as in some varieties of topaz
    2. ( as adjective )

      topaz eyes

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


topaz

/ 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.


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Other Words From

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of topaz1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of topaz1

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

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