lapis lazuli
noun
la·pis la·zu·li ˌla-pəs-ˈla-zə-lē 
-ˈla-zhə-
: a semiprecious stone that is usually rich azure blue and is essentially a complex silicate often with spangles of pyrites
called also lapis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web This multicolor gemstone necklace features one stone for each of the seven chakras (tourmaline, carnelian, citrine, peridot, turquoise, lapis lazuli and amethyst), with each stone meant to support one of the human chakras, or energy centers. 
Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 4 Aug. 2022 The male is constructed in yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, emeralds, tsavorite garnets, diamonds and lapis lazuli, while the female is adorned in yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, mandarin garnets, amethysts, diamonds and turquoise. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2022 While Tiffany is synonymous with the robin’s-egg blue that has adorned its packaging since the late 1800s, the new store highlights a darker, lapis lazuli blue. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 June 2022 Before Prussian blue was discovered, painters had to use indigo dye, smalt, or the pricey ultramarine made from lapis lazuli for deep-blue hues. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 June 2022 Well, maybe the blue-and-white Water Snake necklace, a serpent that wraps the neck with five cabochon Ceylon sapphires, a 4.49 carat diamond, and a plethora of other diamonds and lapis lazuli. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 21 June 2022 Van Cleef & Arpels once again looked to the planets, newly reinforcing its astrological creations with fresh designs and stones like lapis lazuli and amazonite for an extra dose of good vibes. Leena Kim And Olivia Hosken, Town & Country, 17 May 2022 By the 1590s, artists were looking at slate, marble, lapis lazuli, agate, amethyst, alabaster, obsidian, onyx, jasper, limestone and porphyry to envision a new kind of painting. Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 12 Mar. 2022 The list includes a dagger with a blade of iron and a gold hilt with inlays of lapis lazuli. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2022 See More
Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 4 Aug. 2022 The male is constructed in yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, emeralds, tsavorite garnets, diamonds and lapis lazuli, while the female is adorned in yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, mandarin garnets, amethysts, diamonds and turquoise. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2022 While Tiffany is synonymous with the robin’s-egg blue that has adorned its packaging since the late 1800s, the new store highlights a darker, lapis lazuli blue. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 June 2022 Before Prussian blue was discovered, painters had to use indigo dye, smalt, or the pricey ultramarine made from lapis lazuli for deep-blue hues. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 June 2022 Well, maybe the blue-and-white Water Snake necklace, a serpent that wraps the neck with five cabochon Ceylon sapphires, a 4.49 carat diamond, and a plethora of other diamonds and lapis lazuli. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 21 June 2022 Van Cleef & Arpels once again looked to the planets, newly reinforcing its astrological creations with fresh designs and stones like lapis lazuli and amazonite for an extra dose of good vibes. Leena Kim And Olivia Hosken, Town & Country, 17 May 2022 By the 1590s, artists were looking at slate, marble, lapis lazuli, agate, amethyst, alabaster, obsidian, onyx, jasper, limestone and porphyry to envision a new kind of painting. Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 12 Mar. 2022 The list includes a dagger with a blade of iron and a gold hilt with inlays of lapis lazuli. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin lapis + Medieval Latin lazuli, genitive of lazulum lapis lazuli, from Arabic lāzaward — more at azure
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above