Ruby

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹuː.bi/

Definitions

1. A precious gemstone that is typically red in color and valued for its rarity and beauty
2. A deep red precious stone prized for its hardness and brilliance, or something resembling this gem in color or value
3. A lustrous crimson gemstone formed from corundum that serves as a symbol of wealth and is highly sought by jewelers

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "ruby" is that its name comes from the Latin for red, but the stone itself was once thought of through a different colour entirely. The word passed into English from Medieval Latin "rubinus", which grew out of the Latin "ruber", meaning red. Along the way it reached Middle English in forms like "ruby" and "rube", arriving through Old French "rubi", which kept the same sense of a deep red gem. The word has a close relative in English: "rubine", a doublet that entered the language by a different route and kept a more Latin-like shape. Both trace back to the same Medieval Latin source, so they are two English words born from one root.

Synonyms: garnet, crimson, red gemstone, stone, precious stone