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

The Toi et Moi, or You and Me, brooch combines opal with double rose-cut tourmaline, aquamarine, chrysoberyl, sapphire, spinel, tsavorite, quartz and white diamond. —David Belcher, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

In this version, two of the five mobile diamonds are replaced by aquamarines, with a matching strap and Roman numerals on the dial. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin aqua marina, from Latin, sea water

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aquamarine

• acetylene
• adenosine
• amphetamine
• anthropocene
• antipyrine
• apomorphine
• apoprotein
• arsphenamine
• azobenzene
• buprenorphine
• chlorobenzene
• chlorpromazine

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