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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.


semiprecious British  
/ ˌsɛmɪˈprɛʃəs /

adjective

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

Etymology

Origin of semiprecious

First recorded in 1885–90; semi- + precious

Vocabulary lists containing semiprecious

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.

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 • Oct. 18, 2023

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 • Jul. 11, 2023

I really enjoy making jewelry with sterling silver and semiprecious stones.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2023

He claims to be the first Chinese trader to bring lapis lazuli to Beijing, the semiprecious blue gemstone for which Afghanistan is famous.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2022

Bay Boy, Woodrow Cain, Buddy Wilson, Junie Bug—like a necklace of semiprecious stones they surrounded her.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

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