ultramarine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun blue pigment made of powdered lapis lazuli
    ultramarine blue.
  2. noun a vivid blue to purple-blue color
  3. adjective satellite of a brilliant pure blue to purplish blue color

WordNet

Ul`tra*ma*rine" adjective
Etymology
Pref. ultra- + marine.
Definitions
  1. Situated or being beyond the sea. Burke.
Ul`tra*ma*rine" noun
Etymology
Cf. Sp. ultramarino. So called because the lapis lazuli was originally brought from beyond the sea, -- from Asia.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A blue pigment formerly obtained by powdering lapis lazuli, but now produced in large quantities by fusing together silica, alumina, soda, and sulphur, thus forming a glass, colored blue by the sodium polysulphides made in the fusion. Also used adjectively.

Webster 1913