aquamarine

noun

aqua·​ma·​rine ˌä-kwə-mə-ˈrēn 

ˌa-

1

: a transparent blue, blue-green, or green variety of beryl used as a gem

2

: a pale blue to light greenish blue

Did you know?

Aquamarine Has Latin Roots

Aqua marina * is Latin for "seawater", so when a lovely blue-green form of the semiprecious gem known as beryl was given an English name several centuries ago, *aquamarine seemed appropriate. Aquamarine is the ideal color that most of us carry around in our heads when we imagine the waters that lap the shores of the Greek and Caribbean islands on a sunny day. But even the Mediterranean and the Caribbean can take on lots of other colors depending on weather conditions.

Examples of aquamarine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among the stars was the Lili set, featuring aquamarines including a 57-carat one as centerpiece on a necklace. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 10 Feb. 2025

The dial, paved with diamonds, can be seen beneath the aquamarine. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025

Yet another, a gigantic bib of turquoise and malachite beads, yellow and white diamonds, cushion-cut yellow sapphire, and a cushion aquamarine, pays homage to the covert watch necklace with an upside-down timepiece pendant dangling at the end of it. —Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024

Manrique is the reason that just about every building is painted in white, often accented with cactus greens, obsidian blacks, and pops of aquamarine. —Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin aqua marina, from Latin, sea water

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

aquamarine

noun

aqua·​ma·​rine ˌak-wə-mə-ˈrēn 

ˌäk-

1

: a transparent beryl that is blue, blue-green, or green

2

: a pale blue to light greenish blue