paraiba
paraiba Lexical Profile
• noun
A state located in northeastern Brazil, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, known for its extensive tropical coastline and its historic capital city, João Pessoa.
"During their geographical survey of South America, the researchers spent several weeks studying the coastal ecosystems of Paraíba."
A rare, intensely colored neon blue or green-blue variety of tourmaline gemstone, highly prized in jewelry and originally discovered in northeastern Brazil.
"The auction house expected the flawless paraiba to fetch a record-breaking price due to its exceptional neon glow."
Word Nuance & Usage
Typically capitalized as 'Paraíba' when referring to the Brazilian state, but frequently written in lowercase when referring to the highly prized tourmaline gemstone.
• Rhymes for paraiba
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Portuguese 'Paraíba', originally derived from the Old Tupi words 'pa'ra' (river) and 'a'íba' (bad or unnavigable).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.