turquoise

turquoise — noun

1. A greenish-blue stone that is softer and less expensive than precious gems such

1.nounB1
Definition

A greenish-blue stone that is softer and less expensive than precious gems such as diamonds or rubies, often cut into smooth rounded shapes and set in silver jewellery.

Example

Ziad bought his mother a silver bracelet set with small pieces of turquoise.

collocation: set with turquoise — used when the stone is part of jewellery

The ancient Egyptians mined turquoise in the Sinai desert over four thousand years ago.

Common collocations
  • set with turquoise
  • piece of turquoise
  • veins of turquoise
  • mined turquoise
  • carved turquoise
Synonyms
  • gemstone

    A general term for any precious or semi-precious stone; turquoise is one type of gemstone.

  • semi-precious stone

    A broader category that includes turquoise as well as stones like jade, amethyst, and opal — less valuable than precious stones.

Usage Note

Turquoise can be countable when referring to individual stones ('a carved turquoise'; 'three turquoises') or uncountable when referring to the material in general ('a piece of turquoise').

Common Mistakes

She wore a turquoise pendant' (ambiguous — colour or stone?)
She wore a turquoise pendant set in gold.
Adding 'set in' or 'made of' makes the stone meaning clear.

2. A colour that blends blue and green, similar to the shade of the gemstone turquo

2.nounB1
Definition

A colour that blends blue and green, similar to the shade of the gemstone turquoise — like the shallow water of a tropical sea or the feathers of certain birds.

Example

The bathroom walls were a soft turquoise that made the room feel cool and calm.

collocation: soft / pale / bright turquoise — adjectives commonly used before the colour name

Eleni chose a turquoise scarf to brighten her plain grey coat.

Common collocations
  • shade of turquoise
  • painted turquoise
  • soft turquoise
  • bright turquoise
  • turquoise blue
Synonyms
  • teal

    A darker, more greenish blue than turquoise, often associated with the colour of the teal duck's head.

  • aquamarine

    A lighter, more transparent blue-green than turquoise, named after the semi-precious stone of the same colour.

  • cyan

    A bright, pure greenish-blue that lacks the grey or muted tones turquoise can have.

Usage Note

Like most colour names, turquoise is uncountable when referring to the colour in general ('shades of turquoise'). For a specific item, 'a' + adjective + 'turquoise' is common ('a deep turquoise').

Common Mistakes

The colour turquoise is a blue-green.
Turquoise is a blue-green colour.
'Colour turquoise' is unnatural; use 'the colour turquoise' only before a verb.

turquoise — adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Turquoise, jade, lapis lazuli, and opal are all semi-precious stones used in jewellery, but they differ in colour, hardness, and cultural associations. Turquoise is a blue-green stone with a relatively soft structure, often showing dark veins or speckles; it has been valued in Native American, Persian, and Egyptian art for centuries. Jade ranges from pale green to deep emerald and is harder than turquoise, making it popular in Chinese carving traditions. Lapis lazuli is a deep, royal blue stone flecked with gold-coloured pyrite; in ancient times it was ground into pigment for paintings. Opal can display a rainbow of colours within a milky white or dark base, a property called 'play-of-colour' that turquoise does not have. Where turquoise is generally opaque and matte, opal can be translucent and iridescent — the two can be told apart by how light passes through them.

turquoise ↗jade ↗lapis lazuliopal

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Turquoise comes from the Old French phrase 'pierre turqueise', meaning 'Turkish stone', because the mineral was first brought to Europe through Turkey from the mines of Central Asia. The name shifted into English as 'turkeis' and later 'turquoise' by the 16th century. The colour sense appeared in English a few centuries later, taking its name from the stone.