ruby
Of a deep, red color; ruby-red.
Adjective
- Of a deep, red color; ruby-red.
Origin
From Middle English ruby, rube, from Old French rubi, from Medieval Latin rubīnus. Doublet of rubi and rubine. Sense 7 (“pronunciation guide”) is from the British 5½-point type size (sense 6), used for annotations in printed documents.
Forms
Noun Entry 2
- 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. - 1957, The Monthly...
- 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...
- 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. - c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William...
- 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 is Ruby, on a Bend Topaz, three Martlets Diamond. [...] Checkie Topaz and Saphire, a Fesse within a Bordure Ruby, by the Name of Clifford. - 1726, John Guillim, The Banner Display'd; Or, an Abridgment of...
- (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...
- A ruby hummer, a South American hummingbird, Clytolaema rubricauda.
- A red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra.
- The size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5½-point.
Synonyms: agate
- A pronunciation guide written above or beside Chinese characters.
Related: rubi
- A red spinel.
Forms
Related
Derived
antique ruby balas-ruby Colorado ruby Mont Blanc ruby nonruby ovorubin rock ruby rose-a-ruby rubasse rubelet rubious ruby anniversary ruby blende ruby chocolate Ruby Creek ruby jubilee rubylike ruby port ruby red ruby-red ruby shark ruby silver ruby slippers ruby spinel
Noun alt of, slang
- Alternative letter-case form of Ruby (“curry”).
Forms
Verb
- To make red; to redden.
- With sanguine drops the walls are rubied - 1725–1726, Homer, “Book 20”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC: