ruby Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
noun a transparent deep red variety of corundum; used as a gemstone and in lasers
noun a deep and vivid red color
crimson; deep red.
adjective satellite of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
reddish; scarlet; cherry; crimson; blood-red; cerise; cherry-red; carmine; ruby-red; red; ruddy.

F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See Rouge, red.

plural Rubies

(Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red. It is a red crystallized variety of corundum. ✍ Besides the true or Oriental ruby above defined, there are the balas ruby, or ruby spinel, a red variety of spinel, and the rock ruby, a red variety of garnet. artificially produced variants are used in jewelry and in lasers.
Of rubies, sapphires, and pearles white. Chaucer.
The color of a ruby; carmine red; a red tint.
The natural ruby of your cheeks. Shak.
That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.
(Print.) See Agate, n., 2. Eng.
(Zoöl.) Any species of South American humming birds of the genus Clytolæma. The males have a ruby-colored throat or breast.

imperfect & past participle Rubied ; present participle & verbal noun Rubying