KJV Dictionary Definition: sapphire

sapphire

SAP'PHIRE, n. L. sapphirus; Gr. to scrape, to shine, to be fair, open, beautiful.

A species of silicious gems or minerals, of several varieties. In hardness it is inferior to the diamond only. Its colors are blue, red, violet, yellow, green, white, or limpid, and one variety is chatoyant, and another asteriated or radiated.

Sapphire is a subspecies of rhomboidal corundum.

The oriental ruby and topaz are sapphires.

Sapphire is employed in jewelry and the arts.