noun
Common
ruby
ROO-bee
Ruby (noun) means a precious gemstone that is a deep red variety of corundum. Example: “The museum displayed a large ruby in a glass case.”
noun
1
A precious gemstone that is a deep red variety of corundum.
"The museum displayed a large ruby in a glass case."
"He gave her a ruby necklace for their anniversary."
"Her engagement ring was set with a single ruby."
2
A deep, rich red color, like that of the gemstone.
"The sunset turned the sky a deep ruby above the hills."
"Her lipstick was a bold ruby that stood out in the photographs."
"The wine had a beautiful ruby color."
adjective
1
Having a deep red color.
"Ruby curtains hung across the tall windows of the old theatre."
"The ruby wine glowed in the candlelight."
"She wore a ruby dress to the gala."
How to use ruby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA red gemstone, the deep red color itself, or a programming language that happens to share the name.
Common pairings
ruby ring
ruby red
a flawless ruby
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Word forms
- Plural
- rubies
- Third person singular
- rubies
- Past tense
- rubied
- Comparative
- more ruby
- Superlative
- most ruby
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum displayed a large _____ in a glass case.
Etymology
From Old French rubi, going back to Medieval Latin rubīnus, related to Latin ruber, "red."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “ruby” mean?
The word “ruby” means a precious gemstone that is a deep red variety of corundum. In plain terms, a red gemstone, the deep red color itself, or a programming language that happens to share the name.
How do you pronounce “ruby”?
“Ruby” is pronounced ROO-bee (/ˈɹuː.bi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ruby” in a sentence?
Here is “ruby” used in a sentence: “Her engagement ring was set with a single ruby.”
What part of speech is “ruby”?
Depending on how it is used, “ruby” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “ruby” come from?
The word “ruby” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French rubi, going back to Medieval Latin rubīnus, related to Latin ruber, "red.".
Is “ruby” a common word?
“Ruby” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ruby” have?
“Ruby” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a precious gemstone that is a deep red variety of corundum.
What is the difference between a ruby and a sapphire?
Both gems are varieties of the same mineral, corundum. A ruby is the deep red variety, while corundum of other colors, most famously blue, is sold as sapphire. The main difference between them is simply color.
What is the difference between ruby and garnet?
Although both are red gemstones, they are different minerals: a ruby is the red variety of corundum, while garnet belongs to a separate mineral family. Rubies are typically harder and considerably more valuable than garnets, which often show a deeper or brownish red.
Can ruby be used as an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective, ruby means having a deep red color, as in ruby lips or ruby wine. It appears both on its own and in compounds such as ruby-red.
What is the plural of ruby?
The plural is rubies, following the standard rule that a final y after a consonant changes to -ies. Write "a necklace set with rubies," not "rubys."
