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gemstone

American  
[jem-stohn] / ˈdʒɛmˌstoʊn /

noun

  1. a precious or semiprecious stone that can be cut and polished for use as a gem.

gemstone British  
/ ˈdʒɛmˌstəʊn /

noun

  1. a precious or semiprecious stone, esp one cut and polished for setting in jewellery

"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

Etymology

Origin of gemstone

before 1000; Middle English gimstone, Old English gimstān. See gem, stone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It pains me to see the scroll missing its beautiful covering of velvet cloth and gemstones.

From Literature

The structure included a rounded base and a top with multiple flat faces resembling a cut gemstone.

From Science Daily

Four miners in northern Afghanistan were suffocated to death by fumes this week while digging for gemstones, a local official told AFP on Saturday.

From Barron's

She clusters recycled textiles, found items, donated castoffs and gemstones to create handmade wearable art that she describes as “science bohemian.”

From Los Angeles Times

One of Mr Derby's favourites is a 7th-Century gold and gemstone pendant, which was returned to the landowner and is now worn by his wife.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.