strass

A jeweler carefully applies strass to a silver necklace.

Definition

1. Noun (uncountable):
   • A type of paste used to imitate gemstones: "strass" refers to a heavy, highly refractive glass paste (often containing lead) used to manufacture imitation jewelry, such as rhinestones.
   • Collective term for imitation gems: By extension, "strass" can also denote the artificial gems themselves, especially those used in costume jewelry or decorative arts.

Usage Examples

• (The necklace used imitation glass gems rather than genuine diamonds.)
• (She purchased earrings decorated with artificial gemstones.)
• (The outfit sparkled with imitation gems attached to the material.)

Advanced Usage

• "Strass paste": a specific formulation of glass used to create imitation diamonds.

  • The artisan used strass paste to craft the brooch. (The craftsman used a specialized glass mixture to make the brooch.)

• "Strass jewelry": jewelry made primarily or entirely from imitation gemstones.

  • Vintage strass jewelry is highly collectible. (Old-fashioned imitation gem jewelry is sought after by collectors.)

Variants and Related Words

• Strass (adj): relating to or made of strass.

  • The strass brooch was surprisingly heavy. (The imitation-gem brooch was unexpectedly weighty.)

• Strass-like (adj): resembling strass in appearance or composition.

  • The crystal had a strass-like shimmer. (The crystal sparkled similarly to imitation gemstone glass.)

Synonyms

• Paste: a general term for glass used in imitation jewelry.
• Rhinestone: a specific type of strass often used in costume jewelry, typically cut to resemble a diamond.
• Faux gem: a non-genuine gemstone, which may be made of strass.

Related Idioms

• "Strass and sparkle": a phrase describing cheap, flashy ornamentation.
  • The show was all strass and sparkle, with little substance. (The performance relied on superficial glitter rather than depth.)

Phrasal Verbs (None)

Etymology Note (Not a section, but helpful context)

• "Strass" is derived from the name of its inventor, the 18th-century German jeweler Georg Friedrich Strass, who developed the lead-crystal glass formula used for imitation diamonds.