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ruby

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: Ruby

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹuː.bi/
  • Rhymes: -uːbi
  • Audio (UK):(file)

Etymology 1

More information Examples (pronunciation guide) ...

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.

Noun

ruby (countable and uncountable, plural rubies)

  2. A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
    • 1957, The Monthly Record, volume 61, page 22:
      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.
    • 2012 March, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 14 June 2012, page 128:
      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 and jade.
  3. A deep red colour.
    ruby:  
  4. (heraldry) The tincture red or gules.
    • 1720, Francis Nichols, Rudiments of Honour, page 296:
      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 from Pearl (as he bore it) to Topaz.
    • 1726, John Guillim, The Banner Display'd; Or, an Abridgment of Guillim, page 504:
      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.
    • 1754, John Lodge, The Peerage of Ireland; Or, a Genealogical History of the ..., page 71:
      (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 [...]
  5. A ruby hummer, a South American hummingbird, Clytolaema rubricauda.
  6. A red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra.
  8. (uncountable, printing, UK, dated) The size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5½-point.
    Synonym: (US) agate
  10. (typography) A pronunciation guide written above or beside Chinese characters.
    Alternative form: rubi
  11. (obsolete) A red spinel.
Derived terms
Descendants
  • → Japanese: ルビ (rubi)
Translations

Adjective

ruby (comparative more ruby, superlative most ruby)

  1. Of a deep, red color; ruby-red.
Translations

Verb

ruby (third-person singular simple present rubies, present participle rubying, simple past and past participle rubied)

  1. (transitive, poetic) To make red; to redden.

See also

redsedit
pronunciation guide

Further reading

Etymology 2

Noun

ruby (plural rubies)

  1. (rhyming slang) Alternative letter-case form of Ruby (“curry”).

Anagrams

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Czech

Pronunciation

Noun

ruby

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of rub

Middle English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French rubi, itself borrowed from Latin rubeus.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈriu̯biː/, /ˈriu̯beː/

Noun

ruby (plural rubies)

  1. A ruby (red precious stone)
  2. (figuratively) A precious individual.
Descendants
References

Etymology 2

Verb

ruby

  1. alternative form of robben

Silesian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *grubъ.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈru.bɪ/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ubɪ
  • Syllabification: ru‧by

Adjective

ruby

  1. fat, thick

Declension

More information singular, plural ...

Further reading

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