lapis lazuli

lapis lazuli

lapis lazuli , gem, deep blue, violet, or greenish blue in color and usually flecked with yellow iron pyrites. It is composed of lazurite, a complex sodium aluminum silicate, mixed with other minerals, and is usually found in masses, rather than in crystals, in metamorphosed limestones. Sources of supply are Afghanistan, Chile, Siberia, upper Myanmar, California, and Colorado. It was formerly made into vases and bowls and has been used from ancient times for beads and small ornaments. It was also extensively used in mosaics and was the "sapphire" of the ancients.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"lapis lazuli." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"lapis lazuli." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-lapislaz.html

"lapis lazuli." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-lapislaz.html

Learn more about citation styles

lapis lazuli

lap·is laz·u·li / ˈlapis ˈlazyəˌlī; ˈlazhəˌlī; ˈlazyəlē/ (also lap·is) • n. a bright blue metamorphic rock consisting largely of lazurite, used for decoration and in jewelry. ∎  a bright blue pigment formerly made by crushing this, being the original ultramarine. ∎  the color ultramarine.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"lapis lazuli." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"lapis lazuli." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-lapislazuli.html

"lapis lazuli." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-lapislazuli.html

Learn more about citation styles

lapis lazuli

lapis lazuli silicate producing ultramarine pigment. XIV. f. L. lapis stone + lazulī, g. of medL. lazulum, varying with lazur, lazurius, f. Pers. lāzhward AZURE.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "lapis lazuli." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "lapis lazuli." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lapislazuli.html

T. F. HOAD. "lapis lazuli." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lapislazuli.html

Learn more about citation styles

lapis lazuli

lapis lazulially, phalli •Adlai • gadfly • blackfly • damselfly •sandfly • barfly • mayfly •Eli, Ely •greenfly • bacilli • multiply • styli •whitefly • wall eye • horsefly •housefly •alveoli, E. coli, gladioli •blowfly • lapis lazuli • reguli • stimuli •flocculi • ranunculi • firefly •discoboli • astragali • dragonfly •alkali • Lorelei • Naphtali • butterfly •hoverfly

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"lapis lazuli." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"lapis lazuli." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-lapislazuli.html

"lapis lazuli." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-lapislazuli.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Lapis lazuli: Its royal blue color was a perfect contrast to the pure gold in...
Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 2/1/2002
Lapis Lazuli: In Pursuit of the Celestial Stone.(Brief article)(Book review)
Magazine article from: The Middle East; 2/1/2011
Dylan Thomas's "Do not go gentle into that good night": through "Lapis...
Magazine article from: Papers on Language &amp; Literature; 3/22/1998

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of lapis lazuli