sapphires
sapphires — noun
- sapphiressingular
- sapphiresesplural
1. a valuable transparent gemstone, most often deep blue, that people wear in rings
a valuable transparent gemstone, most often deep blue, that people wear in rings, necklaces, or other jewellery.
Mia received a pair of sapphire earrings from her grandmother on her wedding day.
attributive use: sapphire + earrings / necklace / ring
The jeweller set the sapphire in a simple silver pendant for Anjali.
passive: be set in [metal]
Haruto's vintage watch had tiny sapphires marking the hours on its gold dial.
A crown decorated with sapphires and diamonds was the highlight of the museum tour.
Bao bought a sapphire bracelet for his mother's sixtieth birthday celebration.
- gemstone
broader category that includes sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and many other stones
- stone
informal shorthand in the jewellery trade; 'a three-stone ring' could contain sapphires or diamonds
- cornflower
refers specifically to a light-blue variety of sapphire, not the gemstone in general
- imitation stone
a man-made material designed to look like a natural sapphire but without the same value or properties
文法句型
sapphire + noun (attributive)
set with sapphires
用法筆記
When referring to the stone itself, 'sapphire' is countable ('three sapphires'); when used attributively before a noun, the singular form is standard ('a sapphire ring').
常見錯誤
2. a vivid blue colour with a slightly purple tone, similar to the shade of a high-
a vivid blue colour with a slightly purple tone, similar to the shade of a high-quality sapphire gemstone.
Lea chose a dress in deep sapphire for the awards ceremony.
collocation: deep / rich / vivid sapphire
The living room walls were painted a soft sapphire that reminded Ignacio of the ocean.
uncountable: describes a colour as a noun
The evening sky turned from rose to sapphire as the sun went down.
Hamza's new suit was a rich sapphire that caught the light beautifully.
- azure
a lighter, more sky-like blue; more poetic or literary in tone
- ultramarine
a deeper, more intense blue, often used in art and painting
- cobalt
a strong pure blue with less purple than sapphire, common in ceramics and glass
文法句型
a deep / rich / vivid sapphire
shade of sapphire
用法筆記
Used as an uncountable colour noun ('dressed in sapphire') rather than as a countable gemstone. The definite article is possible when the speaker has a specific shade in mind ('the sapphire of the Mediterranean').
常見錯誤
sapphires — adjective
- sapphirespositive
- more sapphirescomparative
- most sapphiressuperlative
1. describes something, such as the sky, the ocean, or a person's eyes, that is a v
describes something, such as the sky, the ocean, or a person's eyes, that is a vivid bright blue similar to the colour of a sapphire gemstone.
The peacock spread its sapphire feathers in a magnificent fan.
attributive: sapphire + noun
Eitan looked out across the sapphire water of the bay.
Beatriz painted her front door a warm sapphire blue against the white wall.
The butterfly's wings shimmered with sapphire and turquoise patterns.
Hassan spotted a sapphire kingfisher perched above the stream.
- bright blue
more general and everyday; lacks the gemstone association of 'sapphire'
- vivid blue
emphasises intensity without the gemstone reference
- royal blue
a specific mid-blue shade, slightly less purple-toned than sapphire blue
文法句型
sapphire + noun (the colour modifies the noun)
sapphire blue + noun
用法筆記
Primarily used attributively (before the noun). The compound form 'sapphire blue' is more common in everyday speech and works both attributively ('sapphire blue eyes') and predicatively ('the water was sapphire blue').