n.
Pronunciation: ' sa- ˌ f ī r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English safir, from Anglo-French, from Latin sapphirus, from Greek sappheiros, perhaps of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew sapp ī r sapphire
Date: 13th century
1 a : a gem variety of corundum in transparent or translucent crystals of a color other than red especially : one of a transparent rich blue b : a gem of such corundum
2 : a deep purplish-blue color
– sapphire adjective