ultramarine

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/ UK /ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #90184

Meanings

1

noun
a vivid deep-blue pigment originally made by grinding lapis lazuli and now also produced synthetically

The painter reserved costly natural ultramarine for the central figure's robe.
2

noun
the intense blue to violet-blue color of ultramarine pigment

The dragonfly's abdomen shone a vivid ultramarine in the sun.
3

adj
having a vivid deep-blue or violet-blue color

An ultramarine stripe crossed the bird's otherwise pale wing.
4

adj
historical: situated or originating beyond the sea

The ministry administered several ultramarine territories.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a vivid deep-blue pigment... ultramarine blue

2 noun · the intense blue to... deep blueultramarine blue

3 adj · having a vivid deep-blue or... deep-blue

4 adj · historical: situated or... overseastransmarine

Word family

Related forms lapis lazuli pigment azure cobalt blue

Common collocations

ultramarine blue Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Medieval Latin ultramarinus ("beyond the sea"), from ultra ("beyond") + marinus ("of the sea"). The pigment took this name because lapis lazuli reached Europe from lands beyond the Mediterranean.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# ultramarine

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/
**Frequency rank:** 90184

## Meanings
1. a vivid deep-blue pigment originally made by grinding lapis lazuli and now also produced synthetically
2. the intense blue to violet-blue color of ultramarine pigment
3. having a vivid deep-blue or violet-blue color
4. historical: situated or originating beyond the sea

## Examples
- The painter reserved costly natural ultramarine for the central figure's robe.
- The dragonfly's abdomen shone a vivid ultramarine in the sun.
- An ultramarine stripe crossed the bird's otherwise pale wing.
- The ministry administered several ultramarine territories.

## Synonyms
- ultramarine blue
- deep blue
- overseas
- transmarine

## Related Forms
- lapis lazuli
- pigment
- azure
- cobalt blue

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin ultramarinus ("beyond the sea"), from ultra ("beyond") + marinus ("of the sea"). The pigment took this name because lapis lazuli reached Europe from lands beyond the Mediterranean.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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