|lapə̇ˈslazə(ˌ)lē, |lāp-, -azhə- also -əˌlī or |läpəˈsläzə(ˌ)lē noun
also lapis
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin lapis stone + Medieval Latin lazuli, gen. of lazulum lapis lazuli, from Arabic lāzaward — more at azure
1. : a semiprecious stone usually of a rich azure blue color that is essentially a lazurite but contains hauynite, sodalite, and other minerals, occurs usually in small rounded masses frequently showing spangles of iron pyrites, and is probably the sapphire of the ancients
2. : lapis lazuli blue