jewel
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a precious stone, such as a diamond, ruby, or emerald.
n.a precious or semi-precious stone, often cut and polished for use in ornamentation.
Simple“The crown was covered in large red jewels that sparkled in the light.”
In context“The geologist identified the raw stone as a rare jewel, noting its unusual clarity and deep violet hue before it was sent for cutting.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.an ornament or piece of jewellery made with precious stones and metal.
n.an object of personal adornment, typically made of precious metal and set with gemstones.
Simple“She kept her most expensive jewels in a locked box under the bed.”
In context“The museum's collection includes several ancient jewels recovered from royal tombs, showcasing the intricate goldwork of the period.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person or thing that is very valuable, helpful, or beautiful.
n.a person or thing regarded as particularly valuable, excellent, or prized.
Simple“This little café is a real jewel in an otherwise boring part of town.”
In context“The young researcher proved to be the jewel of the department, consistently producing groundbreaking work that secured several major grants.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a tiny hard stone used inside a watch to help the parts move smoothly.
n.a synthetic or natural gemstone used as a low-friction bearing in a mechanical watch movement.
Simple“The watchmaker explained that the watch had seventeen jewels to keep it accurate.”
In context“High-end mechanical movements often feature a high jewel count to minimise wear on the delicate pivots during decades of operation.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
v.to decorate something with many small jewels.
v.to decorate, set, or bedeck an object with gemstones.
Simple“The handle of the sword was jewelled with small blue stones.”
In context“The artisan spent months jewelling the ceremonial mask, carefully placing each sapphire to catch the flickering torchlight during the festival.”
From jewel.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.