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

But the fields that sloped toward the turquoise sea weren’t about to be cultivated with the vines of Merlot grapes or Regona cider apple trees or even acorns to be transmuted into jamón Ibérico. —Tamar Adler, Vogue, 3 June 2026

The white sands and turquoise waters of the Noonu Atoll, in the northwest Maldives, are the backdrop for 45 one- and two-bedroom villas. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

The original rainbow pride flag actually had eight colors, but two of them (pink and turquoise) were eliminated in 1978 to make manufacturing easier. —Nicole Harris, Parents, 2 June 2026

Unspooling over May 25-28 in the Meliá Calvià Beach Hotel at Magaluf, Mallorca, the 10th anniversary of edition Conecta afforded extraordinary vistas of Magaluf Bay, its turquoise Mediterranean waters worthy of laptop wallpaper. —John Hopewell, Variety, 1 June 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