Wiktionary

ruby

See also: Ruby

English

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A ruby (gem).

Pronunciation

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

Etymology 1

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From Middle English ruby, rube, from Old French rubi, from Medieval Latin rubīnus. Doublet of rubine.

Noun

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ruby (countable and uncountable, plural rubies)

  2. A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
    • 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.
  3. A deep red colour.
    ruby:  
  4. (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 [...]
  5. A ruby hummer, a South American hummingbird, Clytolaema rubricauda.
  6. A red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra.
  8. (uncountable, printing, UK, dated) The size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5½-point.
    Synonym: (US) agate
  9. (obsolete) A red spinel.
Derived terms
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Translations
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Adjective

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ruby (comparative more ruby, superlative most ruby)

  1. Of a deep red colour.
Translations
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Verb

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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

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redsedit

Further reading

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  • David Barthelmy (1997–2025) “Ruby”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database.
  • “ruby”, in Mindat.org‎[2], Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2025.

Etymology 2

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From the British 5½-point type size ruby (etymology 1), used for annotations in printed documents.

Noun

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ruby (plural rubies)

  2. (typography) A pronunciation guide written above or beside Chinese characters.
Alternative forms
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Descendants
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  • → Japanese: ルビ (rubi)
Translations
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See also

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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Czech

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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ruby

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of rub

Middle English

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Etymology 1

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Borrowed from Old French rubi, itself borrowed from Latin rubeus.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈriu̯biː/, /ˈriu̯beː/

Noun

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ruby (plural rubies)

  1. A ruby (red precious stone)
  2. (figuratively) A precious individual.
Descendants
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References
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Etymology 2

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Verb

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ruby

  1. Alternative form of robben

Silesian

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-Slavic *grubъ.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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ruby

  1. fat, thick

Declension

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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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