turquoise

noun

tur·​quoise ˈtər-ˌkȯiz  -ˌkwȯiz 

variants or less commonly turquois

1

: a mineral that is a blue, bluish-green, or greenish-gray hydrous basic phosphate of copper and aluminum, takes a high polish, and is valued as a gem when sky blue

2

: a light greenish blue

Examples of turquoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Back in 2016, in the turquoise waters of Tetiaroa island, Gagnon and Sachs were tasked with simulating the impact of rising levels of planet-heating pollution on a small patch of coral reef. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

Ye’s family was also in the audience, including his 13-year-old daughter North West, who stood out in a bright turquoise wig, and his wife, Bianca Censori. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

Lake Tekapo gets its milky turquoise color from fine glacial rock flour floating in the water. — Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026

Mercedes-Benz got state-level approval for turquoise lights on its Level 3 Drive Pilot cars — even though the automaker has since scrapped the idea in favor of a Level 2++ system. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English turkeys, from Anglo-French turkeise, from feminine of turkeis Turkish, from Turc Turk

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing turquoise

• turquoise blue
• turquoise green

Kids Definition

turquoise

noun

tur·​quoise ˈtər-ˌk(w)ȯiz 

1

: a blue, bluish green, or greenish gray mineral that contains copper and aluminum, takes a high polish, and is used in jewelry

2

: a light greenish blue

Etymology

Middle English turkeys "turquoise," from early French turkeise (same meaning), derived from turkeis, literally "Turkish (stone)"; so called because it was first brought to Europe from a part of Turkey