any transparent or translucent variety of the mineral corundum of a colour other than red, esp a transparent rich blue variety used as a gem
a deep brilliant blue colour
sapphire adj
sapphirine /ʹsafirien/ adj
[Middle English safir via Old French and Latin from Greek sappheiros, prob ultimately from Sanskrit śanipriya, literally ‘dear to the planet Saturn’, from śani Saturn + priya dear]