jewel-box
Definition
- Noun:
- A container for jewelry: "jewel-box" refers to a small box or case designed specifically for storing and organizing precious items such as rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She kept her grandmother's diamond ring in a velvet jewel-box. (A container for valuable jewelry.)
- The antique jewel-box was carved from mahogany and lined with silk. (A decorative storage case for ornaments.)
Advanced Usage
- "a jewel-box of a room": a small, beautifully decorated space, often in a theatre or building.
- The opera house's private box was a jewel-box of red velvet and gold leaf. (A tiny, ornate room.)
- "jewel-box" as a metaphor: anything small, precious, and finely crafted.
- The cottage was a jewel-box, with every detail perfect and charming. (A small, exquisite place.)
Variants and Related Words
- Jewel-case (n): an alternative term for a jewel-box, especially one that is flat or designed for travel.
- She stored her earrings in a leather jewel-case. (A portable jewelry container.)
- Jewelry box (n): a more common, modern term for the same object.
- He bought her a music-playing jewelry box for her birthday. (A container for personal ornaments.)
Synonyms
- Casket: a small, often ornate box for valuables (archaic or formal).
- The casket held the crown jewels. (A container for precious items.)
- Trinket box: a small box for inexpensive or sentimental items.
- She kept her childhood souvenirs in a trinket box. (A container for small keepsakes.)
Related Idioms
- "Like a jewel-box": used to describe something small, sparkling, or meticulously arranged.
- The garden was like a jewel-box, with each flower placed perfectly. (Extremely neat and beautiful.)
Note on Usage
The term "jewel-box" is less common in everyday speech than "jewelry box" or "jewel case," but it retains a formal or poetic tone. It may also refer to a specific type of compact disc case (a "jewel case") in music industry contexts, though this is a distinct meaning.