ruby

¹

[ roo-bee ]

noun

, plural ru·bies.

1. a red variety of corundum, used as a gem.
2. something made of this stone or one of its imitations, as a bearing in a watch.
3. a deep-red port wine.
4. deep red; carmine.
5. Ruby, Digital Technology. an open-source, high-level programming language that is purely object-oriented.
6. British Printing. a 5½-point type, nearly corresponding in size to American agate.

adjective

1. ruby-colored:

   ruby lips.

2. containing or set or adorned with a ruby or rubies:

   a ruby necklace.

Ruby

²

[ roo-bee ]

noun

1. a female given name.

ruby

/ ˈruːbɪ /

noun

1. a deep red transparent precious variety of corundum: occurs naturally in Myanmar and Sri Lanka but is also synthesized. It is used as a gemstone, in lasers, and for bearings and rollers in watchmaking. Formula: Al 2 O 3
2. 1. the deep-red colour of a ruby
   2. ( as adjective )

      ruby lips

3. 1. something resembling, made of, or containing a ruby
   2. ( as modifier )

      ruby necklace

4. modifier denoting a fortieth anniversary

   our ruby wedding

5. (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 5 1 2 point

ruby

/ ro̅o̅′bē /

1. A deep-red, translucent variety of the mineral corundum, containing small amounts of chromium and valued as a gem.
2. Compare sapphire

Derived Forms

• ˈruby-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• ruby·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruby¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun rubi from Old French, from Old Provençal robi(n) , from Medieval Latin rubīnus (lapis) “red (stone),” derivative of Latin ruber, rubeus red ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruby¹

C14: from Old French rubi , from Latin rubeus reddish, from ruber red

Example Sentences

On its opening drive, Orange Lutheran answered with Cook’s three-yard toss to Ava Harrison, then the Lancers took a 7-6 lead on Ruby Fuamatu’s one-point grab.

From Los Angeles Times

Giuliani is in the process of paying for a $148 million judgment after he was found to have defamed former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shayne Moss.

From Salon

Strutting between the tables, her head nearly touching the ceiling, Genesis sashayed through the dining room and plucked dollar bills from diners’ hands while she introduced performances by three other queens: Victoria Holiday did a Beyoncé number in a long pink wig; BaeJing lip-synched to the White Lotus theme song with a lot of rapid tongue movements; and Ruby Fox did a Cyndi Lauper song in opera-length gloves.

From Slate

Ruby, aged 11, watched her coach on the show.

From BBC

How did we react to Ruby Bridges walking to school?

From Slate