gem
jehm
Gem (noun) means a precious or semi-precious stone, especially one cut and polished for jewelry. Example: “The ring was set with a single blue gem.”
noun
1
A precious or semi-precious stone, especially one cut and polished for jewelry.
"The ring was set with a single blue gem."
"The jeweller held the polished gem up to the light and smiled."
"Rubies and emeralds are both gems that people have prized for centuries."
2
Something or someone of exceptional quality or value.
"This little café is a hidden gem."
"She's an absolute gem for helping out at short notice."
"That old record shop is a real gem if you love vinyl."
3
A software package or library for the Ruby programming language.
"He installed the gem to add the missing feature."
"You can add login support to the app by installing a single gem."
"The developer published her new gem so other programmers could reuse the code."
How to use gem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA precious stone, or figuratively, anything or anyone considered wonderful or valuable.
Common pairings
hidden gem
precious gem
a real gem
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like gem.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- gems
- Third person singular
- gems
- Past tense
- gemmed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ring was set with a single blue _____.
Etymology
From Old English ġimm and Old French gemme, both ultimately from Latin gemma, meaning a jewel or a swelling bud on a plant.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “gem” mean?
The word “gem” means a precious or semi-precious stone, especially one cut and polished for jewelry. In plain terms, a precious stone, or figuratively, anything or anyone considered wonderful or valuable.
How do you pronounce “gem”?
“Gem” is pronounced jehm (/d͡ʒɛm/ in IPA).
How do you use “gem” in a sentence?
Here is “gem” used in a sentence: “The ring was set with a single blue gem.”
What is another word for “gem”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gem” include jewel and precious stone.
What part of speech is “gem”?
“Gem” is a noun.
Where does the word “gem” come from?
The word “gem” comes from Latin. From Old English ġimm and Old French gemme, both ultimately from Latin gemma, meaning a jewel or a swelling bud on a plant.
Is “gem” a common word?
“Gem” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “gem” have?
“Gem” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a precious or semi-precious stone, especially one cut and polished for jewelry.
What is the difference between a gem and a gemstone?
A gemstone usually refers to the mineral itself, whether raw or cut, while gem often emphasizes the finished, polished stone ready to be set in jewelry. In everyday speech the two words are largely interchangeable, though gem also carries the figurative sense of anything of exceptional value.
What is the difference between a gem and a jewel?
A gem is the cut and polished precious or semi-precious stone itself, whereas a jewel more often refers to a finished piece of jewelry, such as a ring or brooch, that contains one or more gems. Both words are also used figuratively to praise a person or thing of great worth.
When would you call a person a gem?
Calling someone a gem is a warm, informal compliment meaning they are exceptionally kind, helpful, or valuable, as in "she's an absolute gem." It draws on the sense of gem as something of exceptional quality rather than the literal stone.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include gem:
