aquamarine
C1Formal, literary, technical (gemology/colour description)
Definition
Meaning
A pale blue-green colour, like the sea.
A transparent blue-green variety of beryl, used as a gemstone; the colour associated with this gem.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun referring to a colour or gemstone. Can be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., 'aquamarine dress'). The colour connotation is specific—a clear, light, greenish-blue, not a deep or dark blue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/descriptive in both varieties. In the US, may be slightly more associated with the March birthstone.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions. Comparable frequency in descriptive writing and gemology contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] + aquamarine[of] aquamarineaquamarine + [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in jewellery retail (e.g., 'Our new line features aquamarine pendants').
Academic
Used in geology/mineralogy texts describing beryl varieties.
Everyday
Mostly in colour description (e.g., 'I painted the wall aquamarine').
Technical
Precise term in gemology and colour science (specific hue, saturation, tone).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She wore an aquamarine gown to the summer ball.
American English
- We painted the bathroom an aquamarine color.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sea was a beautiful aquamarine.
- Her ring had a small aquamarine in the centre.
- The artist mixed pigments to capture the exact aquamarine of the Caribbean waters.
- The geologist identified the specimen as aquamarine, a variety of beryl valued for its clarity and hue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AQUA (water) + MARINE (sea) = the colour of tropical sea water.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOUR IS A GEMSTONE (e.g., 'emerald green', 'ruby red').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'аквамарин' – it's a direct cognate with identical meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe dark blue (it is specifically a light, greenish-blue).
- Misspelling as 'aquamarin' or 'aquamareen'.
Practice
Quiz
Aquamarine is primarily a...
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is the traditional birthstone for March.
Yes, attributively (e.g., 'an aquamarine dress'). It is not used predicatively like a typical adjective ('The dress is aquamarine' is acceptable, but 'The dress is very aquamarine' is less common).
Aquamarine is a lighter, more transparent blue with a green hint, named after the gemstone. Turquoise is a denser, more opaque blue-green, often associated with the mineral of the same name.
No, it is a low-frequency word used mainly in specific descriptive or gemological contexts.
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