topaz

UK: /ˈtəʊpæz/ US: /ˈtoʊpæz/ ,(tō′paz)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

to•paz /ˈtoʊpæz/   n. 

1. Mineralogy a mineral found in transparent crystal prisms and used as a gem:
   [uncountable] a ring of topaz.
   [countable] a topaz in the ring.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

to•paz  (tō′paz), n. 

1. a mineral, a fluosilicate of aluminum, usually occurring in prismatic orthorhombic crystals of various colors, and used as a gem.
2. citrine (def. 2).
3. either of two South American hummingbirds, Topaza pella or T. pyra, having chiefly red and crimson plumage and a yellowish-green throat with a topaz sheen.

• Latin, as above
• Old French
• Greek tópazos; replacing Middle English topace
• Latin topazus
• 1225–75;

to•paz•ine (tō′pə zēn′, -zin), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

topaz / ˈtəʊpæz/ noun

1. a white or colourless mineral often tinted by impurities, found in cavities in igneous rocks and in quartz veins. It is used as a gemstone. Composition: hydrated aluminium silicate. Formula: Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂. Crystal structure: orthorhombic
2. oriental topaz ⇒ a yellowish-brown variety of sapphire
3. false topaz ⇒
   another name for citrine
4. a yellowish-brown colour, as in some varieties of topaz
5. (as adjective): topaz eyes
6. either of two South American hummingbirds, Topaza pyra and T. pella

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French topaze, from Latin topazus, from Greek topazos