ruby
[roo-bee]
- a red variety of corundum, used as a gem.
- something made of this stone or one of its imitations, as a bearing in a watch.
- a deep-red port wine.
- deep red; carmine.
- (initial capital letter) Digital Technology. an open-source, high-level programming language that is purely object-oriented.
- British Printing. a 5½-point type, nearly corresponding in size to American agate.
- ruby-colored: ruby lips.
- containing or set or adorned with a ruby or rubies: a ruby necklace.
Origin of ruby
1275–1325; Middle English rubi (noun) from Old French, from Old Provençal robi(n), from Medieval Latin rubīnus (lapis) “red (stone),” derivative of Latin ruber, rubeus red1
Ruby
[roo-bee]
- a female given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ruby
Contemporary Examples
Ruby also danced in a chorus of a Hollywood club for a while, as her marriage deteriorated and finally ended in divorce.
But Ruby Pearl kept order, and the more responsibility she took the more Spahn relied upon her.
In the last few years, however, Spahn gradually began to notice changes in Ruby Pearl.
After Spahn had obtained the movie ranch, Ruby applied for a job there and was hired.
At one community fair, in Thousand Oaks, Ruby met a man, a wrestler, who would become her next husband.
Historical Examples
There was a pen the nibs of which were of ruby, set in gold, made by Doughty.
The Story of the Invention of Steel PensHenry Bore
I did all I could to make Ruby's visit a happy one—don't you know I did?
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
I ain't hired him to loaf 'round all day with Ruby and to sulk when she's gone.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
I cottoned to ye fust time I see ye, and so did Ruby, and we still do.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
I ain't got nobody but you, Ruby—don't go 'way from me, child—stay with me.'
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
ruby
- a deep red transparent precious variety of corundum: occurs naturally in Myanmar and Sri Lanka but is also synthesized. It is used as a gemstone, in lasers, and for bearings and rollers in watchmaking. Formula: Al 2 O 3
- the deep-red colour of a ruby
- (as adjective)ruby lips
- something resembling, made of, or containing a ruby
- (as modifier)ruby necklace
- (modifier) denoting a fortieth anniversaryour ruby wedding
- (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 5 1/2 point
Word Origin
C14: from Old French rubi, from Latin rubeus reddish, from ruber red
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
Word Origin and History for ruby
n.
"clear rich-red variety of corundum," c.1300, from Old French rubi (12c.), from Medieval Latin rubinus lapis "red stone" (cf. Italian rubino), from Latin rubeus "red," related to ruber (see red). As a color name from 1570s. As an adjective from late 15c. Modern French rubis is not explained; Klein suggests a plural mistaken for singular.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ruby
[rōō′bē]
- A deep-red, translucent variety of the mineral corundum, containing small amounts of chromium and valued as a gem. Compare sapphire.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.