gem

[ jem ]

/ dʒɛm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gem ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

a person held in great esteem or affection.

muffin(def 1).

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

verb (used with object), gemmed, gem·ming.

to adorn with or as with gems; begem.

adjective

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

Nearby words

gelsolin, gelt, geländeläufer, geländesprung, gelée, gem, gem iron, gem state, gemara, gematria, gemayel

Origin of gem

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

SYNONYMS FOR gem

2 treasure, prize, jewel, pearl.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gem ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

gem·less, adjectivegem·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gem

Baby cigarette “No worry of cancer with this cigarette costume,” the description for this gem reads.
Sexy Ebola Nurse & More of the Year’s Worst Halloween Costumes|Kevin Fallon|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take for instance this gem of a story written about the horrific Baltimore fire of 1904.
The Stacks: H.L. Mencken on the 1904 Baltimore Fire|H.L. Mencken|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet another example is Belle Isle, a gorgeous 982-acre gem floating in the Detroit River.
The Republican Occupation of Detroit|Sally Kohn|July 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Check out this angry-faced selfie with Geoff Cameron, a true World Cup gem.
Team USA Lost, but Tim Howard Is a Winner|Emily Shire|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The ice cream remains reason enough to detour off I-84 for a visit to this mid-20th century gem.
The Real Cheeseburger Paradise|Jane & Michael Stern|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear many a gem of purest ray serene.
The Super Race: An American Problem|Scott Nearing
It is great painting in miniature, genius in its quintessence, a gem of perfect water.
Life of Charles Dickens|Frank Marzials
Spinels are found along with ruby in Burmah and in Siam and they also occur in the gem gravels of Ceylon.
A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public|Frank Bertram Wade
The gem of all others which enriches the coronet of woman's character, is unaffected piety.
Scientific American magazine Vol 2. No. 3 Oct 10 1846|Various
He acted upon it forth with: he drew out from within his under-garment a gem that hung round his neck by a gold chain.
The Bride of the Nile, Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for gem

gem

/ (dʒɛm) /

noun

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

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

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

NZ a type of small sweet cake

verb gems, gemming or gemmed

(tr) to set or ornament with gems

Derived Forms

gemlike, adjectivegemmy, adjective

Word Origin for gem

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

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