gems

[gems] /gɛms/
noun, plural gemses
[gem-siz, -ziz] /ˈgɛm sɪz, -zɪz/ (Show IPA)
1.
chamois (def 1).
Also, gemse
[gem-zuh] /ˈgɛm zə/ (Show IPA).
Origin
< German; Old High German gamiza < Late Latin camoc- (stem of camox)

gem

[jem] /dʒɛm/
noun
1.
a cut and polished precious stone or pearl fine enough for use in jewelry.
2.
something likened to or prized as such a stone because of its beauty or worth:
His painting was the gem of the collection.
3.
a person held in great esteem or affection.
4.
muffin (def 1).
5.
British Printing. a 4-point type of a size between brilliant and diamond.
verb (used with object), gemmed, gemming.
6.
to adorn with or as with gems; begem.
adjective
7.
Jewelry. noting perfection or very high quality:
gem color; a gem ruby.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English gemme < Old French < Latin gemma bud, jewel; replacing Middle English yimme, Old English gim(m) < Latin
Related forms
gemless, adjective
gemlike, adjective
Synonyms
2. treasure, prize, jewel, pearl.
Examples from the web for gems
  • They have all kinds of bright lights and the gems and jewelry really reflect the light up into your face.
  • Celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the first movie review with some particularly excoriating gems from the past century.
  • Chalcedonies include many types of cryptocrystalline quartz gems and feature a number of different colors.
  • He is now experimenting with drilling holes in the gems and knotting them together in varying configurations.
  • Brave store openings bring new gems throughout the city.
  • Few of the artists are household names, but there are plenty of gems that reflect his lively curiosity and idiosyncratic taste.
  • Street artists paint tiny gems amid the growing downtown squalor.
  • Usually gems are under a carat, are only used in very special jewelry.
  • Lucrative industries of gems, oil and forestry remain heavily regulated.
British Dictionary definitions for gems

gem

/dʒɛm/
noun
1.
a precious or semiprecious stone used in jewellery as a decoration; jewel
2.
a person or thing held to be a perfect example; treasure
3.
a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 4 point
4.
(NZ) a type of small sweet cake
verb gems, gemming, gemmed
5.
(transitive) to set or ornament with gems
Derived Forms
gemlike, adjective
gemmy, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Old French gemme, from Latin gemma bud, precious stone
Word Origin and History for gems

gem

n.

Old English gimm "precious stone, gem, jewel," also "eye," from Latin gemma "precious stone, jewel," originally "bud," perhaps from the root *gen- "to produce," or from PIE *gembh- "tooth, nail." Of persons, from late 13c. Forms in -i-, -y- were lost early 14c., and the modern form of the word probably representing a Middle English borrowing from Old French gemme (12c.). As a verb, from c.1600, "to adorn with gems;" mid-12c. as "to bud."

Related Abbreviations for gems

GEMS

Global Environment Monitoring System

GEM

  1. Gemini
  2. ground-effect machine