gem

[ jem ]
See synonyms for: gemgemmedgemminggems on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a cut and polished precious stone or pearl fine enough for use in jewelry.

  2. something likened to or prized as such a stone because of its beauty or worth: His painting was the gem of the collection.

  1. a person held in great esteem or affection.

  2. British Printing. a 4-point type of a size between brilliant and diamond.

verb (used with object),gemmed, gem·ming.
  1. to adorn with or as with gems; begem.

adjective
  1. Jewelry. noting perfection or very high quality: gem color; a gem ruby.

Origin of gem

1
1275–1325; Middle English gemme<Old French <Latin gemma bud, jewel; replacing Middle English yimme,Old English gim(m) <Latin

Other words for gem

Other words from gem

  • gemless, adjective
  • gemlike, adjective

Words Nearby gem

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gem in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gem

gem

/ (dʒɛm) /


noun
  1. a precious or semiprecious stone used in jewellery as a decoration; jewel

  2. a person or thing held to be a perfect example; treasure

  1. a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 4 point

  2. NZ a type of small sweet cake

verbgems, gemming or gemmed
  1. (tr) to set or ornament with gems

Origin of gem

1
C14: from Old French gemme, from Latin gemma bud, precious stone

Derived forms of gem

  • gemlike, adjective
  • gemmy, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012