ruby spinel

ruby spinel
a deep red, transparent variety of spinel, used as a gem. Also called spinel ruby.
[1830-40]

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      natural or synthetic gem-quality spinel (q.v.; magnesium aluminum oxide) that resembles ruby. The two natural gems are generally found together in gem gravels, to the extent that spinel has been called “mother of ruby.” Many historic rubies were probably spinels; the Timur Ruby in the British crown jewels is such a stone. Spinel may be distinguished from ruby by its lesser hardness and lighter weight. Pure spinel is colourless; the gem varieties owe their hues to the presence of small proportions of metal ions other than magnesium and aluminum. Ruby spinel is the bloodred variety; balas ruby, the pink; almandine, the purple; and rubicelle, the yellow to orange red. The placer deposits of Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), and Thailand provide most of the gem material.

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  • ruby spinel — noun a spinel used as a gemstone (usually dark red) • Syn: ↑spinel ruby • Hypernyms: ↑spinel • Hyponyms: ↑almandine, ↑balas, ↑balas ruby, ↑rubicelle * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • ruby spinel — ru′by spinel n. mir a deep red, transparent variety of spinel, used as a gem • Etymology: 1830–40 …   From formal English to slang

  • ruby spinel — noun Date: 1839 a usually red spinel used as a gem …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ruby — Ru by, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See {Rouge}, {red}.] 1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruby of arsenic — Ruby Ru by, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See {Rouge}, {red}.] 1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruby of sulphur — Ruby Ru by, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See {Rouge}, {red}.] 1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruby of zinc — Ruby Ru by, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See {Rouge}, {red}.] 1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruby silver — Ruby Ru by, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See {Rouge}, {red}.] 1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ruby sulphur — Ruby Ru by, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See {Rouge}, {red}.] 1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spinel ruby — noun a spinel used as a gemstone (usually dark red) • Syn: ↑ruby spinel • Hypernyms: ↑spinel • Hyponyms: ↑almandine, ↑balas, ↑balas ruby, ↑rubicelle …   Useful english dictionary

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