ˈtōˌpaz noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English topace, from Old French topace, topaze, from Latin topazus, topazos, from Greek topazos, topazion
1.
a. : a mineral Al 2 SiO 4 (F,OH) consisting of a silicate of aluminum and usually occurring in white orthorhombic translucent or transparent crystals or in white translucent masses
b. : a usually yellow, reddish, or pink transparent mineral topaz used as a gem
c. : oriental topaz
d. : a yellow quartz: as
(1) : false topaz
(2) : smoky quartz turned yellow by heating
2. : either of two large brilliantly colored So. American hummingbirds ( Topaza pella and T. pyra ) that have a metallic yellowish green throat with a tint like topaz in the center, a bright crimson belly and red back, and in the male the two tail feathers next to the central ones much longer than the rest, curved, and crossed
3. : a variable color averaging a dark orange yellow that is redder and duller than average amber (sense 3a)