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

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 formsgem·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 Formsgemlike, 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

Word Origin and History for gem

gem

Old English gimm "precious stone, gem, jewel," also "eye," from Latin gemma "precious stone, jewel," originally "bud," perhaps from the root *gen- "to produce," or from PIE *gembh- "tooth, nail." Of persons, from late 13c. Forms in -i-, -y- were lost early 14c., and the modern form of the word probably representing a Middle English borrowing from Old French gemme (12c.). As a verb, from c.1600, "to adorn with gems;" mid-12c. as "to bud."

gem

noun

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

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of gem

Examples from the Web for gem

gem

noun

verb gems, gemming or gemmed

Word Origin for gem

gem