English Reference
Word noun · adjective · verb

ruby

n. · adj. · v.
US /ˈɹubi/ UK /ɹˈuːbi/ ru·by UK spelling rubies, ruby's, rubying
Definition
  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a valuable, clear, deep red stone used in jewelry.

    n.a precious variety of the mineral corundum, characterized by its deep red color and high value as a gemstone.

    Simple

    “The queen wore a stunning necklace with a large ruby in the center.”

    In context

    “The jeweler examined the ruby under a loupe to check for natural inclusions that would verify its origin.”

    Synonyms
    gemjewel
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a dark, rich red color.

    n.a deep, vibrant shade of red resembling the gemstone.

    Simple

    “The curtains were a rich ruby that matched the carpet perfectly.”

    In context

    “The sunset painted the clouds in shades of ruby and gold as the light faded.”

    Synonyms
    crimsonscarlet
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    n.small characters written above or beside Chinese or Japanese text to show how to say them.

    n.small, annotative characters placed above or beside logographic characters in East Asian typography to indicate pronunciation.

    Simple

    “The children's book used ruby text to help students read difficult characters.”

    In context

    “Modern web browsers support the ruby element, allowing for the correct display of phonetic annotations in Japanese text.”

    Synonyms
    furigana
  4. 04 C1 Advanced British EnglishSlangInformal Cooking

    n.a slang word for a curry meal.

    n.a slang term for a curry, derived from the Cockney rhyming slang 'Ruby Murray'.

    Simple

    “Do you want to go out for a ruby tonight?”

    In context

    “After the football match, the group headed to the local Indian restaurant for a ruby.”

    Teacher's tip

    This is specific to British English and is based on the name of a famous singer, Ruby Murray.

    Synonyms
    curry
  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.having a deep red color.

    adj.having the deep red color characteristic of a ruby.

    Simple

    “She sipped the ruby wine and enjoyed the quiet evening.”

    In context

    “The bird's ruby throat shimmered whenever it moved into the direct sunlight.”

    Synonyms
    redcrimson
  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Literary

    v.to make something turn red.

    v.to impart a red color to something; to redden.

    Simple

    “The setting sun rubied the mountain peaks.”

    In context

    “The evening light rubied the surface of the lake, creating a dramatic contrast with the dark trees.”

    Synonyms
    reddenflush
    Antonyms
    pale
Etymology

The female name derives from ruby in the 19th century. The programming language was named after the gemstone.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated