ruby

See also: Ruby

English

Pronunciation

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

Etymology 1

A ruby (gemstone; noun sense 1).
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.
    • 1888, Oscar Wilde, “The Happy Prince”, in The Happy Prince and Other Tales, London: Duckworth, published 1928, page 26:
      “Alas! I have no ruby now,” said the Prince; “my eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago.”
    • 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[1], 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.
    • 2023 [2005], Ronald L. Bonewitz, “Minerals: Oxides”, in Smithsonian Rock and Gem: The Definitive Guide to Rocks, Minerals, Gems and Fossils, Softcover 2023 American Edition, page 150:
      The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber, meaning “red.” In Sanskrit, ruby is known as ratnaraj, “king of precious stones.”
  4. A deep red colour.
    ruby:  
  5. (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 [...]
  6. A ruby hummer, a South American hummingbird, Clytolaema rubricauda.
  7. A red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra.
  9. (uncountable, printing, UK, dated) The size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5½-point.
    Synonym: (US) agate
  11. (typography) A pronunciation guide written above or beside Chinese characters.
    Alternative form: rubi
  12. (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

Czech

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈrubɪ]

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

    Declension of ruby
    singular plural
    masculine neuter feminine virile nonvirile
    animate inanimate
    nominative ruby rube rubŏ rubi rube
    genitive rubego rubyj rubych
    dative rubymu rubyj rubym
    accusative rubego ruby rube rubõ rubych rube
    instrumental rubym rubōm rubymi
    locative rubym rubyj rubych
    vocative ruby rube rubŏ rubi rube

    Further reading

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