turquoise Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a blue to grey green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate
    • blue turquoise is valued as a gemstone
  2. noun a shade of blue tinged with green
    aqua; greenish blue; aquamarine; cobalt blue; peacock blue.

WordNet

Tur*quoise", Tur*quois" noun (Also<
  • Turquoise
  • Turquois
)
Etymology
F. turquoise; cf. Pr. & Sp. turquesa, It. turchese, turchina, LL. turchesius, turchina; -- so called because first brought from Turkey. See 1st Turkey.
Definitions
  1. (Min.) A hydrous phosphate of alumina containing a little copper; calaite. It has a blue, or bluish green, color, and usually occurs in reniform masses with a botryoidal surface. Formerly written also turcois, and turkois. ✍ Turquoise is susceptible of a high polish, and when of a bright blue color is much esteemed as a gem. The finest specimens come from Persia. It is also found in New Mexico and Arizona, and is regarded as identical with the chalchihuitl of the Mexicans.
Tur*quoise" adjective
Definitions
  1. Having a fine light blue color, like that of choice mineral turquoise.

Webster 1913