gem

¹gem

noun \ˈjem\

: a valuable stone that has been cut and polished for use in jewelry

: something that is admired for its beauty or excellence

Full Definition of GEM

1

a :  jewel

b :  a precious or sometimes semiprecious stone cut and polished for ornament

2

a :  something prized especially for great beauty or perfection

b :  a highly prized or well-beloved person

3

:  muffin

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Examples of GEM

1. The house is a gem of colonial architecture.
2. He pitched a gem of a game.
3. Her most recent novel is a real gem.

Origin of GEM

Middle English gemme, from Anglo-French, from Latin gemma bud, gem

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GEM

Synonyms

brilliant, gemstone, jewel, rock [slang]

Related Words

bauble, bijou, trinket; birthstone; baguette, cabochon, cameo, scarab, solitaire, teardrop; paste, rhinestone, zircon; crown jewels, jewelry

Near Antonyms

rough

Rhymes with GEM

em, femme, hem, LEM, m, mem, phlegm, REM, Shem, stem, them

²gem

verb

gemmedgem·ming

Definition of GEM

transitive verb

:  to adorn with or as if with gems

First Known Use of GEM

1610

GEM

abbreviation

Definition of GEM

ground-effect machine