RUBY • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Ruby

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/rˈubi/ Listen

noun

Ruby n. (pl. rubies)

1.

(Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red. It is a red crystallized variety of corundum. Note: Besides the true or Oriental ruby above defined, there are the balas ruby, or ruby spinel, a red variety of spinel, and the rock ruby, a red variety of garnet. "Of rubies, sapphires, and pearles white."

2.

The color of a ruby; carmine red; a red tint. "The natural ruby of your cheeks."

3.

That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.

4.

(Print.) See Agate, n., 2. (Eng.)

5.

(Zool.) Any species of South American humming birds of the genus Clytolaema. The males have a ruby-colored throat or breast.

Ruby of arsenic, Ruby of sulphur (Chem.), a glassy substance of a red color and a variable composition, but always consisting chiefly of the disulphide of arsenic; called also ruby sulphur.

Ruby of zinc (Min.), zinc sulphide; the mineral zinc blende or sphalerite.

Ruby silver (Min.), red silver. See under Red.

adjective

Ruby adj. Ruby-colored; red; as, ruby lips.

verb

Ruby v. t. (past & past part. rubied; pres. part. rubying) To make red; to redden. (R.)

See images of 'Ruby'

Etymology of 'Ruby'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Ruby" Quotes from Famous Books

... was then, towards the close of that wedding ceremony, that Sir Jacques suddenly made up his mind what should be the words graven inside what he intended should be his wedding gift to Rose Blake—that gift was a fine old-fashioned ruby ring, the only one of his mother's jewels he possessed, and the words he then chose in his own mind were those of the Psalmist, "O well is thee, and happy ...

— Good Old Anna • Marie Belloc Lowndes

... line of cabs and omnibuses that stood outside the I.B.&Q. depot was a Despardoux car, dazzling the eye with brass, and reflecting the passing throng in the deep, ruby, red of its highly polished surface. Its only occupant was Miss Grace Sinclair, suffocating in a leather coat, and with her shy, pretty face well concealed behind an automobile mask. At the side of the car, neatly pinned to one of the long rawhide baskets, was the following invitation ...

— The Motormaniacs • Lloyd Osbourne

... very sweet voice, in which she sings (unaided by instrumental music, and seated on a chair in the middle of the room) the artless ballads of her native country. I had the pleasure of hearing the 'Bonnets of Bonny Dundee' and 'Jack of Hazeldean' from her ruby lips two evenings since; not indeed for the first time in my life, but never from such a pretty little singer. Though both ladies speak our language with something of the tone usually employed by the inhabitants of the northern part of Britain, their accent is exceedingly pleasant, ...

— The Newcomes • William Makepeace Thackeray

... his bosom. His gown was fastened by a sash of black silk net-work, in which, instead of a poniard, or sword, was stuck a silver case, containing writing materials and a roll of parchment. The only ornament of his apparel consisted in a large ruby of uncommon brilliancy, which, when he approached the light, seemed to glow with such liveliness, as if the gem itself had emitted the rays which it only reflected back. To the offer of refreshment, the stranger replied, ...

— The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Volume XIII, No. 370, Saturday, May 16, 1829. • Various

... the various occurrences of the afternoon. She was sorry for the man in the tree; she was sorry that the agent for the Royal Ruby grape had been obliged to go away; and I had a good deal of trouble during dinner to make her see things in the proper light. But I succeeded ...

— Rudder Grange • Frank R. Stockton

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