gem

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

gem, n. [OE. gemme precious stone, F. gemme, fr. L. gemma a precious stone, bud.].

•  A bud.  [1913 Webster]

  "From the joints of thy prolific stem
  A swelling knot is raised called a gem."  [1913 Webster]
•  A precious stone of any kind, as the ruby, emerald, topaz, sapphire, beryl, spinel, etc., especially when cut and polished for ornament; a jewel.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything of small size, or expressed within brief limits, which is regarded as a gem on account of its beauty or value, as a small picture, a verse of poetry, a witty or wise saying.  [1913 Webster]

Artificial gem, an imitation of a gem, made of glass colored with metallic oxide. Cf. Paste, and Strass.

gem, v. t. 

•  To put forth in the form of buds.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  To adorn with gems or precious stones.  [1913 Webster]
•  To embellish or adorn, as with gems; as, a foliage gemmed with dewdrops.  [1913 Webster]

  "England is . . . gemmed with castles and palaces."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

gem, n. & v.
--n.
1 a precious stone, esp. when cut and polished or engraved.
2 an object or person of great beauty or worth.
--v.tr. (gemmed, gemming) adorn with or as with gems.

Derivative

gemlike adj. gemmy adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF gemme f. L gemma bud, jewel

THESAURUS

gem

Danish, Danish pastry, English muffin, Parker House roll, Yorkshire pudding, acceptable person, anklet, armlet, bagel, bangle, bead, beads, bejewel, beribbon, beset, bespangle, bialy, bialystoker, bijou, boast, bracelet, breastpin, brooch, bun, capital fellow, catch, chain, chaplet, charm, chatelaine, circle, clover-leaf roll, coffee cake, coronet, cream, crescent roll, croissant, cross bun, crown, crumpet, crystal, diadem, diamond, earring, elite, engrave, feather, figure, filigree, find, flag, flounce, flower, fob, garland, gem stone, gentleman, godsend, good fellow, good lot, good man, good person, good sort, good thing, good woman, hard roll, honest man, hot cross bun, ideal, illuminate, jewel, kaiser roll, lady, locket, marvel, masterpiece, mensch, muffin, necklace, nonpareil, nose ring, onion roll, paint, pearl, perfect gentleman, perfect lady, persona grata, pick, pin, pinwheel roll, plum, plume, popover, precious stone, pride, pride and joy, prince, prize, quintessence, real man, rhinestone, ribbon, right sort, ring, roll, rough diamond, scone, semiprecious stone, soft roll, spangle, stickpin, stone, tiara, tinsel, torque, treasure, trophy, trouvaille, wampum, windfall, winner, worthy, wreathe, wristband, wristlet

ROGET THESAURUS

gem

Goodness

N goodness, excellence, merit, virtue, value, worth, price, super-excellence, supereminence, superiority, perfection, coup de maitre, masterpiece, chef d'ouvre, prime, flower, cream, elite, pick, A, nonesuch, nonpareil, creme de la creme, flower of the flock, cock of the roost, salt of the earth, champion, prodigy, tidbit, gem, gem of the first water, bijou, precious stone, jewel, pearl, diamond, ruby, brilliant, treasure, good thing, rara avis, one in a thousand, beneficence, good man, harmless, hurtless, unobnoxious, innocuous, innocent, inoffensive, beneficial, valuable, of value, serviceable, advantageous, edifying, profitable, salutary, favorable, propitious fair, good, good as gold, excellent, better, superior, above par, nice, fine, genuine, best, choice, select, picked, elect, recherche, rare, priceless, unparagoned, unparalleled, superlatively, good, bully, crackajack, giltedged, superfine, superexcellent, of the first water, first-rate, first-class, high- wrought, exquisite, very best, crack, prime, tiptop, capital, cardinal, standard, inimitable, admirable, estimable, praiseworthy, pleasing, couleur de rose, precious, of great price, costly, worth its weight in gold, worth a Jew's eye, priceless, invaluable, inestimable, precious as the apple of the eye, tolerable, up to the mark, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, satisfactory, tidy, in good condition, in fair condition, fresh, sound, beneficially, well, Jewels five words long, long may such goodness live!, the luxury of doing good.

Jewelry

N jewel, jewelry, jewellery, bijoutry, bijou, bijouterie, trinket, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, junk jewelry, gem, gemstone, precious stone, necklace, bracelet, anklet, earring, locket, pendant, charm bracelet, ring, pinky ring, carcanet, chain, chatelaine, broach, pin, lapel pin, torque, diamond, brilliant, rock, beryl, emerald, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, girasol, girasole, onyx, plasma, sard, sardonyx, garnet, lapis lazuli, opal, peridot, tourmaline, chrysolite, sapphire, ruby, synthetic ruby, spinel, spinelle, balais, oriental, oriental topaz, turquois, turquoise, zircon, cubic zirconia, jacinth, hyacinth, carbuncle, amethyst, alexandrite, cat's eye, bloodstone, hematite, jasper, moonstone, sunstone, pearl, cultured pearl, fresh-water pearl, mother of pearl, coral, jeweler, gemologist, minerologist, lapidary, lapidarian, gemology, gemmology, minerology, bejeweled, diamond, (gemstones), gemological.

Good Man

N good man, honest man, worthy, good woman, perfect lady, Madonna, model, paragon, good example, hero, heroine, demigod, seraph, angel, innocent, saint, benefactor, philanthropist, Aristides, noble liver, pattern, brick, trump, gem, jewel, good fellow, prince, diamond in the rough, rough diamond, ugly duckling, salt of the earth, one in ten thousand, one in a million, a gentleman and a scholar, pillar of society, pillar of the community, a man among men, si sic omnes!.