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What is the difference between gem and jewel?

gem | jewel | Synonyms |

Jewel is a synonym of gem.



In figuratively terms the difference between gem and jewel

is that gem is any precious or highly valued thing or person while jewel is anything considered precious or valuable.

As nouns the difference between gem and jewel

is that gem is a precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine while jewel is a precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.

As verbs the difference between gem and jewel

is that gem is to adorn with, or as if with, gems while jewel is to bejewel; to decorate or bedeck with jewels or gems.

As proper nouns the difference between gem and jewel

is that gem is a native or resident of the American state of Idaho while Jewel is {{given name|female|from=English}} from the noun jewel, used since the end of the 19th century.

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

    * * ----

    jewel

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.
  • A valuable object used for personal ornamentation, especially one made of precious metals and stones; a piece of jewellery.
  • * ante'' 1611 , (William Shakespeare), '', lines 188–9:
    • Iachimo: 'Tis plate of rare device, and jewels / Of rich and exquisite form, their values great.
  • (figuratively) Anything considered precious or valuable.
  • * Shakespeare
    • our prince (jewel of children)
  • A bearing for a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone.
  • (slang) The clitoris.
  • * 2008 , Another Time, Another Place: Five Novellas
    • The area between her eyebrows wrinkled with the increasing circular motions her two fingers made on her jewel .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * bejewel * jeweler, jeweller * jewelled * jewellery, jewelry * jewel in the crown

    Verb

  • To bejewel; to decorate or bedeck with jewels or gems.