azure

Meaning

Noun

1. The clear blue colour of the sky; also, a pigment or dye of this colour.
2. A blue colour on a coat of arms, represented in engraving by horizontal parallel lines.
3. The unclouded sky; the blue vault above.
4. Any of various widely distributed lycaenid butterflies of the genus Celastrina.
5. Any of various Australasian lycaenid butterflies of the genus Ogyris.
6. Lapis lazuli.

Adj

1. Sky blue; resembling the clear blue colour of the unclouded sky.
2. Cloudless.
3. In blazon, of the colour blue.

Verb

To colour blue.

Synonyms

blue

sky-blue

cerulean

sky blue

blue sky

bright blue

sapphire

lazuline

pale blue

light blue

plants

sky

turquoise

vegetation

vert

welkin

Jove

lightblue

lapis lazuli blue

sky-colored

azurine

blue colour

starry-sky

bright-blue

greeness

pale ble

sky blue color

cerulean blue

ethereal blue

lazali

cerule

azureous

azured

atmosphere

azurn

bruise

cloudless

colored

cornflower

dark blue

deep blue

firmament

indigo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæʒ.ə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: asure

Cognate with Italian: azzurro

Cognate with Spanish: azul

In summary

From Middle English asure, from Old French azur, derived from Arabic لَازَوَرْد (lāzaward, “lapis lazuli”), dropping the l as if it were equivalent to the French article l’. The Arabic is from Classical Persian لاجورد (lājward, “lapis lazuli”), from the region of Lajward in Badakhshan.
Compare with Italian azzurro and Spanish azul.