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View synonyms for gem

gem

[ jem ]

noun

  1. a cut and polished precious stone or pearl fine enough for use in jewelry.
  2. something likened to or prized as such a stone because of its beauty or worth:

    His painting was the gem of the collection.

    Synonyms: pearl, jewel, prize, treasure

  3. a person held in great esteem or affection.
  4. British Printing. a 4-point type of a size between brilliant and diamond.


verb (used with object)

, gemmed, gem·ming.
  1. to adorn with or as with gems; begem.

adjective

  1. Jewelry. noting perfection or very high quality:

    gem color; a gem ruby.

gem

/ dʒɛm /

noun

  1. a precious or semiprecious stone used in jewellery as a decoration; jewel
  2. a person or thing held to be a perfect example; treasure
  3. a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 4 point
  4. a type of small sweet cake


verb

  1. tr to set or ornament with gems

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Derived Forms

  • ˈgemˌlike, adjective
  • ˈgemmy, adjective

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Other Words From

  • gemless adjective
  • gemlike adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of gem1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of gem1

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

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Example Sentences

Year 3 of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the franchise’s prized gems by way of The Process, is in the books.

You’re finding gems that you know you’ll treasure forever, that are unique, interesting, well-made, and delightful.

From Fortune

Another hidden gem — though it’s technically in Lewes — is The Station on Kings.

He’d displayed his gems to his street, arrayed at the head of the garage, facing the road.

Internal site search is one of the hidden gems every SEO should know about.

Baby cigarette “No worry of cancer with this cigarette costume,” the description for this gem reads.

Take for instance this gem of a story written about the horrific Baltimore fire of 1904.

The Garnet Café, named for Idaho's state gem, really is precious.

Yet another example is Belle Isle, a gorgeous 982-acre gem floating in the Detroit River.

Its name may sound dreary, but the Chambre du Commerce is considered a classical gem, dating back to 1878.

Each picture bore a label, giving a true description of the once-honoured gem.

Susy—our Susy—is the cause of this miracle of beauty in the midst of misery; this glowing gem in a setting of ugliness.

Before each guest stood a tiny glass that looked and sparkled like a garnet gem.

Blind—blind—blind that I was, not to remember that the love of a pure true-hearted woman was a gem beyond price.

She wore a kind of sark of shadowy black veil, sewn over with sparkling bits of gem.

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