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# topaz

noun (a topaz, topazes; topaz — uncountable)

«topaz» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Topaz is a hard, clear gemstone, often golden-yellow, brown, blue or pink, used in jewellery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#m1)
2. A topaz is one jewel made of this stone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#m2)
3. Topaz is also a golden-yellow colour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on rocks and minerals, topaz is number 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness (diamond is 10). In jewellery and stories, it is a precious birthstone (November). It appears in the Bible as one of the stones on the high priest's breastplate and in the walls of the heavenly city in Revelation. Phrases: «a topaz ring», «blue topaz».

### Examples

- Mum's ring has a golden topaz in it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#x1)
- Topaz is harder than quartz. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#x2)
- Topaz is the birthstone for November. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#x3)
- The museum showed a huge blue topaz. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#x4)
- On the Mohs scale, topaz scores 8. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#x5)
- The cat's eyes were the colour of topaz. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/#x6)

### Note

Plural «topazes». Pronounced «TOH-paz». On the Mohs hardness scale (1–10), a mineral scratches any mineral with a lower number.

## In Jewish tradition

One of the twelve precious stones on the High Priest's breastplate, each standing for a tribe.

**Interpretation.** Tradition links each gem to one of the tribes, so the priest carried Israel over his heart.

### Examples

- The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. (Writings JOB.28.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/topaz/#x1)
- And they set in it four rows of stones: a row of carnelian, topaz, and smaragd was the first row. (Torah EXO.39.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/topaz/#x2)
- And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of carnelian, topaz, and smaragd shall be the first row; (Torah EXO.28.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/topaz/#x3)

### Note

Plural «topazes». Pronounced «TOH-paz». On the Mohs hardness scale (1–10), a mineral scratches any mineral with a lower number.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «topaz» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/topaz/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«topaz» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/topaz.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «topaz» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/topaz/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«topaz» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/topaz.html) on Mova free.