Definition of CERULEAN

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Cerulean comes from the Latin word caeruleus, which means "dark blue" and is most likely from "caelum," the Latin word for "sky." An artist rendering a sky of blue in oils or watercolors might choose a tube of cerulean blue pigment. Birdwatchers in the eastern U.S. might look skyward and see a cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea). "Cerulean" is not the only color name that's closely associated with the sky. "Azure" (which ultimately comes from a Persian word for lapis lazuli, a rich blue stone) describes the color of a cloudless sky and can even be a noun meaning "the unclouded sky."

Examples of cerulean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the Queen wore a cerulean blue fascinator and matching coat, Kate looked elegant in a gray coat with a peter pan collar and black trim. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "Kate Middleton Wears Catherine Walker Gray Coat to Church With the Queen," 27 Aug. 2018 Colors run riot: green, yellow, red, shimmering gold and lots of blue: sky blue, midnight blue, cerulean blue, peacock blue. — Sharmila Mukherjee, The Seattle Times, "SAM’s ‘Peacock in the Desert’ opens the doors of our perception to the marvelous," 2 Jan. 2019 From the looks of the bath bomb itself, the rich ingredients dissolve into the water to flawlessly recreate the lavender, pink, and cerulean waves painted onto Ariana herself by artist Alexa Meade in the music video. — Isabella Gomez, Teen Vogue, "Lush Announces Bath Bomb Inspired by Ariana Grande's "God Is a Woman" Music Video," 17 Nov. 2018 Her original design takes a cerulean background, adding swirly squiggles inspired by Memphis design and the lesser known Archizoom across the pelvis and down one leg. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "These Artist-Designed Tights Are the Antidote to Boring Black Hosiery," 15 Nov. 2018 Remember that iconic cerulean scene in The Devil Wears Prada? — Julyssa Lopez, Glamour, "This Iconic The Devil Wears Prada Moment Was Almost Totally Different," 20 Nov. 2018 Next came Dree Hemingway, her buzz cut colored a similar shade of roseate, while Ariela Soares's cerulean updo offered a pop art counter to the navy iteration that followed. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "Hot Pink Hair! Printed Buzz Cuts! Punk is the New Pretty at London Fashion Week," 15 Sep. 2018 Beyond the sanctuary-like rooms, there’s lots to draw guests outward, like the pristine cerulean swimming—and snorkeling and diving—beach and three different sprawling azure pools. — Kathryn Romeyn, The Hollywood Reporter, "Hollywood Gets New Los Cabos Getaway," 18 June 2018 The sky turns cerulean and is generally cloudless, and the air remains pleasantly balmy. — Steven Stolman, Town & Country, "What Palm Beach Is Like Now That Donald Trump Is Gone," 10 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cerulean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.