ruby
nounadjectiveverbnouncommon in dialogue
- //ˈɹuː.bi//
A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
noun
- 1
A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
They respond instantly to the faintest rustling in the covert of a sheaf of Ulysses S. Grants, or the homely, rustic tinkle of a wheelbarrow full of rubies being jounced along over a nightclub floor.
Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade.
- 2
A deep red colour.
When now I thinke you can behold such sights, / And keepe the naturall Rubie of your Cheekes, / When mine is blanch'd with feare.
- 3
The tincture red or gules.
Elgin. Topaz a Saltier and Chief Ruby, on a Canton Pearl a Lyon Rampant Saphyr, which last is their paternal Coat; and the Field Topaz, and Saltier, and Chief Ruby, was the Arms of King Robert the Bruce, they altering the Field from Pearl (as he bore it) to Topaz.
The Field is Ruby, on a Bend Topaz, three Martlets Diamond. [...] Checkie Topaz and Saphire, a Fesse within a Bordure Ruby, by the Name of Clifford.
(1) Pearl, a Cross, Ruby, with the Effigies of our Saviour thereon, Topaz, born in Memory of one of the Family's fighting against the Turks. (2) Topaz, a Chief Indented, Saphire. (3) Ruby, three covered Cups, Topaz [...]
- 4
A ruby hummer, a South American hummingbird, Clytolaema rubricauda.
- 5
A red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra.
- 6
datedThe size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5½-point.
- 7
A pronunciation guide written above or beside Chinese characters.
- 8
obsoleteA red spinel.
Etymology
From Middle English ruby, rube, from Old French rubi, from Medieval Latin rubīnus. Doublet of rubi and rubine. Etymology 1 sense 7 (“pronunciation guide”) is from the British 5½-point type size (etymology 1 sense 6), used for annotations in printed documents.
adjective
- 1
Of a deep, red color; ruby-red.
verb
- 1
To make red; to redden.
With sanguine drops the walls are rubied
noun
- 1
Variant of RubyslangAlternative letter-case form of Ruby (“curry”).
Forms
- plural
- rubies
- comparative
- more ruby
- superlative
- most ruby
- past tense
- rubied
- past participle
- rubied
- present participle
- rubying
- third person singular
- rubies
ruby · A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
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