gem

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine.
2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Any precious or highly valued thing or person.
3. (countable, uncountable) Anything of small size, or expressed within brief limits, which is regarded as a gem on account of its beauty or value, such as a small picture, a verse of poetry, or an epigram.
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A gemma or leaf bud.
5. (countable, uncountable) A geometrid moth of the species Orthonama obstipata.
6. (countable, uncountable) A package containing programs or libraries for the Ruby programming language.
7. (obsolete, uncommon, uncountable) A size of type between brilliant (4-point) and diamond (4½-point), running 222 lines to the foot.
8. (countable, uncountable) A strong, dominating pitching performance.
9. (Internet, countable, uncountable) Internet content of good quality.

Verb

To adorn with, or as if with, gems.

Opposite of

coal, brimstone

Pronounced as (IPA)

/d͡ʒɛm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: gemme

Inherited from Old English: ġimm

In summary

Inherited from Middle English gemme, gimme, yimme, ȝimme, from Old English ġimm, from Proto-West Germanic *gimmu (“gem”) and Old French gemme (“gem”), both from Latin gemma (“a swelling bud; jewel, gem”). Doublet of gemma and Gemma.

Synonyms

jewel

precious stone

gemstone

stone

🪨

treasure

diamond

pearl

muffin

jewelry

rock

🪨

jade

jewellery

bijou

ornament

precious

respectable

semi-precious stone

sprout

stones

sweetheart

sweetie

tomfoolery

valuable

valued

article of rare beauty

stud with jewels

adornment

noble stone

bead

beauty

blade

boulder

coin

🪙

costume jewellery

cupcake

🧁

decoration

flourish

honorable

jasper

jewels

Translations

Edelstein

joyau

Juwel

💎

gemma

gemme

pierre précieuse

pietra preziosa

klejnot

gioiello

bijou

gema

💎

joya

Kleinod

gema

juweel