precious stone

noun

1. a gem distinguished for its beauty and rarity, used in jewelry.

precious stone

noun

1. any of certain rare minerals, such as diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, or opal, that are highly valued as gemstones

Word History and Origins

Origin of precious stone¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Example Sentences

In a hierarchy of materials, glass would have sat slightly beneath silver and gold and would have been valued as much as precious stones were.

From Ars Technica

Martin is a true admirer of diamonds, and because of it, the book is cut a bit like the precious stone itself.

From The Daily Beast

Always wear a precious stone in a ring; hold a crystal in your mouth; for the virtue of precious stones is great.

From Project Gutenberg

Gunsang means hermit, and Ngurbu is a very common name signifying precious stone.

From Project Gutenberg

He wore a tall brimless Astrakhan hat, with a single precious stone on the front.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes they are as richly diaphanous as a precious stone, and glow from within with a deep, inexplicable light.

From Project Gutenberg

And the waves strewed the strand with gold and amber and ivory and pearls, and every sort of jewel and precious stone.

From Project Gutenberg