Gem vs Crystal - What's the difference?

gem | crystal |


As nouns the difference between gem and crystal

is that gem is a precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine while crystal is a solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions.

As proper nouns the difference between gem and crystal

is that gem is a native or resident of the American state of Idaho while Crystal is {{given name|female|from=English}}.

As a verb gem

is to adorn with, or as if with, gems.

As an adjective crystal is

very clear.

Other Comparisons: What's the difference?

gem

English

(gemstone)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine.
    • (Milton)
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
    • , author=Lee A. Groat , title=Gemstones , volume=100, issue=2, page=128 , magazine= citation , passage=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.}}
  • (figuratively) any precious or highly valued thing or person
    • She's an absolute gem .
  • Anything of small size, or expressed within brief limits, which is regarded as a gem on account of its beauty or value, such as a small picture, a verse of poetry, or an epigram.
    • a gem of wit
  • (obsolete) a gemma or leaf-bud
  • * Denham
    • From the joints of thy prolific stem / A swelling knot is raised called a gem .
  • a type of geometrid moth, Orthonama obstipata
  • (computing) A package containing programs or libraries for the Ruby programming language.

    • Synonyms

    * (precious stone) gemstone, jewel, precious stone; see also

    Verb

  • To adorn with, or as if with, gems.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1827, author=Various, title=The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10,, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=A few bright and beautiful stars gemmed the wide concave of heaven
  • * {{quote-book, year=1872, author=J. Fenimore Cooper, title=The Bravo, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=Above was the firmament, gemmed with worlds, and sublime in immensity. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1920, author=John Freeman, title=Poems New and Old, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=The rain Shook from fruit bushes in new showers again As I brushed past, and gemmed the window pane. }}

    See also

    *

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    crystal

    English

    (wikipedia crystal)

    Alternative forms

    * crystall (obsolete) * chrystal (obsolete)

    Noun

  • (countable) A solid composed of an array of atoms or molecules possessing long-range order and arranged in a pattern which is periodic in three dimensions.
  • (countable) A piece of glimmering, shining mineral resembling ice or glass.
  • (uncountable) A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it.
  • (uncountable, slang) crystal meth: methamphetamine hydrochloride.
  • The glass over the dial of a watch case.

    • Synonyms

    * (array of atoms) grain

    Antonyms

    * (array of atoms) amorphous, glass

    Derived terms

    * anticrystal * crystalliferous * crystalline * crystallite * crystallization, crystallisation * crystallize, crystallise * crystallographer * crystalloid * crystal stone * quasicrystal

    Related terms

    * blood crystal * clear as crystal * compound crystal * crystal ball * crystal clear * Iceland crystal * liquid crystal * mountain crystal * rock crystal

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Very clear.
    • "Do I make myself clear?" / "Crystal ."

    References

    *