gem
Americannoun
-
a cut and polished precious stone or pearl fine enough for use in jewelry.
-
something likened to or prized as such a stone because of its beauty or worth.
His painting was the gem of the collection.
-
a person held in great esteem or affection.
-
British Printing. a 4-point type of a size between brilliant and diamond.
verb (used with object)
adjective
noun
-
a precious or semiprecious stone used in jewellery as a decoration; jewel
-
a person or thing held to be a perfect example; treasure
-
a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 4 point
-
a type of small sweet cake
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of gem
1275–1325; Middle English gemme < Old French < Latin gemma bud, jewel; replacing Middle English yimme, Old English gim ( m ) < Latin
Explanation
A gem is a precious or semi-precious stone, or a jewel. A silversmith might experiment with adding gems to her rings and necklaces. The sparkly gem in your grandmother's fancy ring might be a diamond, while your aunt appears to prefer the polished greenish-blue gems called turquoise. If you're trained to identify and put a value on gems, you can call yourself a gemologist. Gem is from the Old French gemme, which has a Latin root, gemma, "precious stone or jewel."
Vocabulary lists containing gem
In A Sedimental Mood: Rock and Gem Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Essential Three-Letter Words, Part 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 27–February 2, 2024
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
With that, he led a quintet through the music of “Members, Don’t Git Weary,” a 1968 gem within Roach’s catalog, interpreting its six tracks more along lines of harmonic and emotional content than song form.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
“Sculptural, light-filled, and profoundly livable, this architectural gem stands as a testament to Brouse’s signature vision a residence that celebrates artistry, space, and the boundless beauty of the hills that surround it,” it crowed.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
After telling club president Alfredo Ulloa about the gem she had discovered, Mellado approached Lopez's family.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Then North Beach’s beloved corner gem, Caffe Sapore, got its notice.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
It’s like she went online and searched “slumber party outfits” and came up with this gem from a Baby-Sitters Club book cover or something.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
