RUBY • E-FREE TRANSLATION.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

... Tower Hill, we return as sightseers to glance over the armoury and to catch the sparkle of the Royal jewels. Here is the identical crown that that daring villain Blood stole and the heart-shaped ruby that the Black Prince once wore; here we see the swords, sceptres, and diadems of many of our monarchs. In the armoury are suits on which many lances have splintered and swords struck; the imperishable steel clothes of many a dead king are here, unchanged since the owners doffed them. ...

— Old and New London - Volume I • Walter Thornbury

... represented as addressing the people, grouped around Him, of all classes, soldiers, Pharisees, disciples, travellers, young men, women, and children, with the city in the background. In the tracery above are angels, with rich ruby wings, ...

— A History of Horncastle - from the earliest period to the present time • James Conway Walter

... ensewed to Scotishmen at the first sight, blynded many menis eyis. But a small wynd caused that myst suddantlye to vaniss away; for the greatast offices and benefices within the Realme war appointed for French men. Monsieur Ruby[730] keapt the Great Seall. Vielmort was Comptrollar.[731] Melrose and Kelso[732] should have bein a Commend to the poore Cardinall of Lorane. The fredomes of Scotish merchantis war restreaned in Rowan, and thei compelled to pay toll and taxationis otheris then thare ancient ...

— The Works of John Knox, Vol. 1 (of 6) • John Knox

... the third mate, a Prussian, and an old merchant-seaman—a right jolly fellow, with a face like a ruby. We took him to Po-Po's, and gave him a dinner of baked pig and breadfruit; with pipes and tobacco for dessert. The account he gave us of the ship agreed with my own surmises. A cosier old craft ...

— Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas • Herman Melville

... this, he directed at Mr. Carrack, kindled on that young gentleman's countenance a ruby glow, so intense and fiery that it would seem as if it must have burned up the tawny tufts before their very eyes, like so much dry stubble. There was a glow of another kind in the Captain's broad face, which shone like another sun as he contemplated the ...

— Chanticleer - A Thanksgiving Story of the Peabody Family • Cornelius Mathews

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