01 n. A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red. It is a red crysta…
pl.
Rubies ((#))
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1.
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.(Min.)“Of rubies, sapphires, and pearles white.” — Chaucer.
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2.
The color of a ruby; carmine red; a red tint.“The natural ruby of your cheeks.” — Shak.
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3.
That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.
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5.
Any species of South American humming birds of the genus Clytolaema. The males have a ruby-colored throat or breast.(Zool.)
Phrases & compounds
Ruby of arsenic —
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 —
zinc sulphide; the mineral zinc blende or sphalerite.
Ruby silver —
red silver. See under Red.