[sap.phire] n [ME safir, fr. OF, fr. L sapphirus, fr. Gk sappheiros, perh. of Sem origin; akin to Heb sappir sapphire] (13c) 1 a: a gem variety of corundum in transparent or translucent crystals of a color other than red; esp: one of a transparent rich blue b: a gem of such corundum
2: a deep purplish blue color -- sapphire adj