semiprecious

American  

[sem-ee-presh-uhs, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈprɛʃ əs, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. (of a stone) having commercial value as a gem but not classified as precious, as the amethyst or garnet.

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semiprecious British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈprɛʃəs /

adjective

1. (of certain stones) having commercial value, but less than a precious stone

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Etymology

Origin of semiprecious

First recorded in 1885–90; semi- + precious

Example Sentences

The EPA installed raised barriers and layers of thick plastic to prevent groundwater runoff and used air-quality monitors to ensure that the battery dust, which contains precious and semiprecious metals, did not contaminate the air.

From Los Angeles Times

Four months after the British Museum fired a curator suspected of stealing gems, jewelry and semiprecious stones, the London institution on Tuesday released further information about the fate of the missing items.

From New York Times

Addressing a British parliamentary committee on Wednesday, Mark Jones, the museum’s interim director, said that inventory failures contributed to the theft of about 2,000 artifacts, including gems, semiprecious stones and glass items.

From New York Times

Other discoveries included semiprecious stones such as amber from the Baltics and lapis lazuli and carnelian from Mesopotamia and the northern Levant, according to Fischer.

From Seattle Times

It’s not as valuable as other crowns, for it’s set with mostly semiprecious stones.

From Los Angeles Times