Word
azure
US/ˈæʒɝ/
UK/ˈæʒɐ/
Definitions
01sky blue
adj. having a bright, clear blue colour like the sky.
adj. having the bright, clear blue colour of a cloudless sky.
“The Mediterranean Sea looked beautiful with its azure water under the sun.”
“The travel brochure featured photographs of azure lagoons and white sandy beaches to attract tourists to the tropical islands.”
Literary
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
02the colour blue
n. a bright blue colour or a paint of this colour.
n. a bright blue pigment or the specific hue associated with the clear sky.
“The artist used a deep azure to paint the top of the mural.”
“The designer selected a vibrant azure for the brand's logo to evoke a sense of clarity and openness.”
Literary
Usage
Can be used as both a countable and uncountable noun.
Synonyms
03the sky
n. the clear, blue sky.
n. the unclouded sky or the blue vault of the heavens.
“A single eagle soared high up in the wide azure.”
“Poets often write about the vast azure to represent freedom or the infinite nature of the universe.”
Literary
Usage
Often preceded by the definite article 'the'.
04heraldry
n. the colour blue used on a coat of arms.
n. the tincture blue on a coat of arms, represented in engravings by horizontal lines.
“The knight's shield featured a golden lion on a field of azure.”
“In formal blazonry, the term azure is strictly used to describe the blue elements of a family crest.”
Technical
Usage
Specific to the study of heraldry and coats of arms.
Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/azure