azure

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈæʒə/, /ˈæz.jʊə/, /ˈæʒjʊə/, /əˈzjʊə/, (rarely) /ˈeɪ.ʒə/ Homophone: Asia (/ˈeɪʒə/) (US) IPA(key): /ˈæʒɚ/, /ˈæz.jʊɹ/, /əˈzʊɹ/, /əˈʒʊɹ/, (rarely) /əˈzjʊɹ/ Rhymes: -ʊə(ɹ), -ɜː(ɹ) /ˈæʒə(ɹ)/ is the first (sometimes only) pronunciation listed in many dictionaries and is the most commonly used. Second-most commonly mentioned is /ˈæzjʊə(ɹ)/. Though missed by most other dictionaries, /əˈz(j)ʊə(ɹ)/ and /əˈʒʊə(ɹ)/ with stress on the second syllable are also common. Other, uncommon pronunciations are /ˈæʒʊə(ɹ)/ and /ˈæʒjʊə(ɹ)/ In older English, /ˈeɪ-/ also occurred and is still recorded in some dictionaries, but rarely used. === Noun === azure (countable and uncountable, plural azures) (countable and uncountable) The clear blue colour of the sky; also, a pigment or dye of this colour. (heraldry) A blue colour on a coat of arms, represented in engraving by horizontal parallel lines. (poetic) The unclouded sky; the blue vault above. Any of various widely distributed lycaenid butterflies of the genus Celastrina. Any of various Australasian lycaenid butterflies of the genus Ogyris. Lapis lazuli. ==== Alternative forms ==== (blue color on a coat of arms): az., b., bl. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === azure (not comparable) Sky blue; resembling the clear blue colour of the unclouded sky. Synonym: cerulean Cloudless. (heraldry) In blazon, of the colour blue. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === azure (third-person singular simple present azures, present participle azuring, simple past and past participle azured) (transitive) To colour blue. ==== Translations ==== === See also === === References === === Further reading === == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /a.zyʁ/ Homophones: azurent, azures === Verb === azure inflection of azurer: first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive second-person singular imperative == Middle English == === Noun === azure alternative form of asure == Portuguese == === Noun === azure m (uncountable) alternative form of azur