turquoise

noun tur·quoise \ ˈtər-ˌkȯiz , -ˌkwȯiz \

variants: or less commonly turquois

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of turquoise

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

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Recent Examples of turquoise from the Web

Kudos to costume designer Holly Hynes for the luscious turquoise leotards and tights.

— laura bleiberg, latimes.com, "Barak Ballet at the Broad Stage: New moves for a company on the verge," 1 July 2018
Her grandchildren in California smiled up from her phone, the girl in a dress that’s an explosion of turquoise ruffles, the boy in a sombrero, a wide grin sweeping across his face.

— Time, "'He Might Change His Mind in Minutes or Hours.' Migrant Mothers React to Trump Ending Border Separations," 21 June 2018
But there are still no known turquoise deposits in Mesoamerica.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "New study rethinks pre-Columbian turquoise trade," 14 June 2018
Think clean wood designs and fun extras: a record library in the lobby, a turquoise bar serving inventive cocktails, a game room with a pool table and vintage pinball.

— bridget hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "Your Next Weekend Trip from NYC Should Be to Asbury Park, New Jersey," 25 May 2018
The Persian turquoise tiara is not included in the sale and is returned to the royal vaults.

— stellene volandes, Town & Country, "Why Meghan Markle Should Wear Princess Margaret's Triumph of Love Tiara at Her Wedding," 17 May 2018
Sometime this summer, the validator screens will go live, and anyone with a turquoise card will be able to tap their way onto the trains.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "There's no getting around the clumsy design of SEPTA's new fare gates," 9 May 2018
The small cotinga’s turquoise body practically glowed in his hands.

— National Geographic, "How an Obsession With Rare Bird Feathers Turned Criminal," 23 Apr. 2018
The latter ended with an acrobatics display in which the performers’ costumes fanned out to send the turquoise and yellow of the Kazakh flag rippling across the stage.

— The Economist, "The president of Kazakhstan throws himself a modest birthday bash," 12 July 2018

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