# turquoise

Pronunciation: say "TUR-koyz" US /ˈtɝ.k(w)ɔɪz/, UK /ˈtɜː(ɹ).k(w)ɔɪz/

## Noun

1. A pale greenish-blue color, resembling the gemstone of the same name.
   - Simple: A light blue-green color, like the gemstone of the same name.
   - _The designer chose turquoise for the kitchen tiles._
   - _A band of turquoise stretched along the horizon at dusk._
3. A semi-precious gemstone ranging from sky-blue to greenish-blue or greenish-gray.
   - Simple: A blue or blue-green stone used to make jewelry.
   - _The jeweler set a polished turquoise into the bracelet._
   - _Miners unearthed several turquoises from the desert claim._

## Adjective

2. Having a pale greenish-blue color.
   - Simple: Having a light blue-green color.
   - _Bright turquoise feathers covered the bird's throat._
   - _The shutters were painted turquoise to match the door._
4. Made from the gemstone turquoise.
   - Simple: Made from the blue-green gemstone turquoise.
   - _Ancient artisans crafted turquoise amulets to bury with the dead._
   - _The museum displayed a turquoise mask inlaid by Aztec craftsmen._

## Origin

From Middle French turquoise, from Old French (pierre) turquoise meaning "Turkish (stone)," built from turc plus -ois. The stone was mined near Nishapur in the Khorasan region of Persia but originally reached Europe through Turkey. It is a doublet of Turkish.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/turquoise (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).