gemstone

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Word: Gemstone

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A gemstone is a precious or semi-precious stone that is cut and polished to be used in jewelry. These stones are often beautiful and are valued for their rarity, color, and clarity.

Simple Explanation:

Think of a gemstone as a shiny rock that people make into pretty jewelry, like rings or necklaces.

Example:

• "He had the gem set in a ring for his wife." (This means he put the gemstone into a ring to make it beautiful for his wife.)

Advanced Usage:

In a more advanced context, you might hear about gemstones being used in various industries, such as technology (like diamonds in cutting tools) or in healing practices (like crystals used for their supposed healing properties).

Word Variants:

• Gem: A less formal term for a gemstone, often used to refer to a particular type of stone (e.g., "This gem is very rare.")
• Gemology: The study of gemstones, including their properties and how they are cut and polished.

Different Meanings:

While "gemstone" primarily refers to a stone used in jewelry, it can also metaphorically refer to something that is very valuable or precious in a non-literal sense, such as a "gem of wisdom" meaning a valuable piece of advice.

Synonyms:

• Jewel
• Precious stone
• Semi-precious stone (for stones that are not as rare or expensive)

Idioms:

• "A diamond in the rough": This means something or someone has potential or value that is not immediately obvious.

Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific phrasal verbs directly related to "gemstone," but you might use verbs like "cut" or "polish" when talking about preparing a gemstone.

Usage Instructions:

When using the word "gemstone," you can talk about different types like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. You might say, "I love wearing gemstones because they are beautiful."

Summary:

A gemstone is a beautiful rock that is used in jewelry.

Academic

Noun

1. a crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry
   • he had the gem set in a ring for his wife
   • she had jewels made of all the rarest stones

Synonyms

• gem
• stone