n. & adj.
--n.
1. a transparent blue precious stone consisting of corundum.
2 precious transparent corundum of any colour.
3 the bright blue of a sapphire.
4 a humming-bird with bright blue colouring.
--adj. of sapphire blue.
Phrases and idioms:
sapphire wedding a 45th wedding anniversary.
Derivatives:
sapphirine adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF safir f. L sapphirus f. Gk sappheiros prob. lapis lazuli