gem

1 of 3

noun

ˈjem 

1

a

: jewel

b

: a precious or sometimes semiprecious stone cut and polished for ornament

2

a

: something prized especially for great beauty or perfection

b

: a highly prized or well-beloved person

3

: muffin

gem

2 of 3

verb

gemmed; gemming

transitive verb

: to adorn with or as if with gems

GEM

3 of 3

abbreviation

ground-effect machine

Synonyms

Noun

• brilliant
• gemstone
• jewel
• rock [slang]

Examples of gem in a Sentence

Noun

The house is a gem of colonial architecture.

He pitched a gem of a game.

Her most recent novel is a real gem.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Magazine Reath Design updates a classic 1920s house while staying true to its roots Photography by Laure Joliet Styled by Mieke ten Have June 26, 2024 When her young family started to outgrow their old house, a classic midcentury-modern gem in Beachwood Canyon, Brynn Jones Saban was in denial. —Carly Olson, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2024

Fans of geodes and other pretty rocks will be able to admire the variety of concrete dinosaurs while searching for their next gem. —Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 24 June 2024

Verb

Consider this Tata Harper gem the fountain of youth in oil form. —Nerisha Penrose, ELLE, 29 Nov. 2022

Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have also laid claim to gem as well, which was the possession of many rulers, including India’s Mughal emperors, before coming into the hands of the British monarchy. —Niha Masih, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gemme, from Anglo-French, from Latin gemma bud, gem

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gem

noun

ˈjem

1

a

: jewel entry 1

b

: a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament

2

: something prized as being beautiful or perfect

gem verb