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

At Brock Collection, makeup artist Gucci Westman accented sharp, inky lines along the upper and lower lash lines with smudges of charcoal pigment, while Maryam Nassir Zadeh enhanced thin, razor-sharp flicks by adding a backdrop of cerulean shadow. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "7 Beauty Trends That Ruled the New York Runways This Weekend," 11 Feb. 2019 Hello, cerulean warblers, and welcome to another edition of This Week in Timothée Chalamet. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "This Week in Timothée Chalamet, April 19 Edition," 19 Apr. 2019 Aperol Spritz were the most enjoyable looking out at the cerulean blue water and the old couples spending eight hours on the beach. — Vogue, "A Merry Band of New Yorkers Finds Paradise in the French Riviera," 18 Apr. 2019 Around the corner, the loftlike open living space—which encompasses sitting, dining, and kitchen areas—reveals wraparound glass views of sky and ocean, whose cerulean hues inform but by no means limit the vivid furnishings. — Vicky Lowry, ELLE Decor, "Delphine Krakoff Crafts a Magical Beachfront Retreat in Miami," 16 Apr. 2019 At its fall 2019 show during Milan Fashion Week, the label underlined its track record on outerwear with a line-up of statement coats that weren't kidding around, sometimes in vibrant hues of blue, cerulean and bright yellow. — Erik Maza, Town & Country, "Nancy Pelosi's Red Fire Coat is Officially Available to Buy," 14 Mar. 2019 Whether the exact hue is cerulean, royal navy, or something in-between, blue can be both a neutral and a major statement. — Hannah Miller, Harper's BAZAAR, "Blue Accessories Are Having a Major Moment," 14 Mar. 2019 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

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.