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countable and uncountable, plural rubies
A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone. quotations examples
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.
2012 March, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 14 June 2012, page 128
(obsolete) A red spinel.
A deep red colour. examples
(heraldry) The tincture red or gules. quotations examples
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.
1720, Francis Nichols, Rudiments of Honour, page 296
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.
1726, John Guillim, The Banner Display'd; Or, an Abridgment of Guillim, page 504
(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 [...]
1754, John Lodge, The Peerage of Ireland; Or, a Genealogical History of the ..., page 71
(uncountable, printing, UK, dated) The size of type between pearl and nonpareil, standardized as 5½-point. examples
A ruby hummer, a South American hummingbird, Clytolaema rubricauda. examples
A red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra. examples
comparative more ruby, superlative most ruby
Of a deep red colour. examples
third-person singular simple present rubies, present participle rubying, simple past and past participle rubied
(transitive, poetic) To make red; to redden. quotations examples
With sanguine drops the walls are rubied
1725–1726, Homer, “Book 20”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, and Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot
plural rubies
A pronunciation guide written above or beside Chinese or Japanese characters. examples