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

Ruby red, emerald green, and sapphire blue are a few of the hues that will make your tree a precious gem. —Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024

Living the dream as a skier, mountain biker, and fly-fisher in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Kelly Bastone contributes to our women’s gear column, The XX Factor. New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. —Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 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