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Definition of paraiba

paraiba

/ˌpɑː.rəˈiː.bə/
pa · ra · i · ba
Plural:paraibas
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paraiba Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A state located in northeastern Brazil, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, known for its extensive tropical coastline and its historic capital city, João Pessoa.

Example

"During their geographical survey of South America, the researchers spent several weeks studying the coastal ecosystems of Paraíba."

2

A rare, intensely colored neon blue or green-blue variety of tourmaline gemstone, highly prized in jewelry and originally discovered in northeastern Brazil.

Example

"The auction house expected the flawless paraiba to fetch a record-breaking price due to its exceptional neon glow."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for paraiba

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

paraguay river
paraguayan
parahebe
paraiba
paraiba do sul
paraiba river
parakeet

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.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paraiba. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paraiba
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