# emerald

/ˈɛmɝɹəɫd/ (US) · /ˈɛməɹəld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emerald
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. gemstone

noun · CEFR B2

a valuable bright green stone used in jewellery.

For teachers: a transparent green variety of beryl, highly valued as a precious gemstone.

- The ring was decorated with a large emerald surrounded by small diamonds.
- The crown jewels featured a flawless Colombian emerald, renowned for its deep saturation and lack of visible inclusions.

### 2. colour

noun · CEFR B2

a bright, rich green colour.

For teachers: a vivid, bright green hue resembling that of the gemstone.

- The hills were a beautiful shade of emerald after the spring rain.
- The designer selected a silk fabric in deep emerald to complement the model's complexion for the evening gown.

### 3. colour description

adjective · CEFR B2

having a bright green colour.

For teachers: possessing a rich, vivid green colour characteristic of the gemstone.

- She looked stunning in her emerald dress at the party.
- The island is famous for its emerald lagoons, which attract thousands of tourists every summer.

### 4. printing type size

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English · Technical

a very small size of text used in old printing.

For teachers: a traditional size of type, approximately 6.5 points, positioned between nonpareil and minion.

- The old newspaper used emerald type for the tiny classified ads.
- The compositor noted that the footnotes were set in emerald, making them difficult to read without adequate lighting.

### 5. bird or insect

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of hummingbird or dragonfly with green feathers or wings.

For teachers: any of several species of hummingbirds or dragonflies characterized by iridescent green coloration.

- We saw a tiny emerald hovering near the tropical flowers.
- The biologist identified the specimen as a fork-tailed emerald, noting its distinctive metallic plumage.

## Examples

- She wore a beautiful ring with a large emerald in the center.
- The museum's collection includes a famous crown decorated with hundreds of small emeralds and diamonds.
- The deep green hue of a high-quality emerald is often more prized than the clarity of a diamond, despite the natural inclusions typically found within the stone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.