jewel

/ˈdʒuəl/

/dʒuəl/

Other forms: jewels; jewelled; jeweled; jewelling; jeweling

A jewel is a valuable gem or stone, one that might be set in a ring or necklace. Your grandmother might keep her jewels locked in a safe, to protect them from thieves.

You can see large, gorgeous jewels in museums and jewelry stores. The diamond in a diamond ring is a jewel, and the rubies in a pair of sparkly red earrings are also jewels. You can also use the word to mean "person as special as a jewel." The Old French root is jouel, which may stem from jocus, "sport or pastime" in Latin, and "that which causes joy" in Vulgar Latin.

Definitions of jewel

1. noun

   a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
   synonyms: gem, precious stone

   types:

   crown jewel

   a precious stone that is a valuable part of a sovereign's regalia

   solitaire

   a gem (usually a diamond) in a setting by itself

   diamond

   a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

   ruby

   a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

   pearl

   a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel

   emerald

   a transparent piece of emerald that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

   sapphire

   a transparent piece of sapphire that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

   ice, sparkler

   diamonds

   seed pearl

   a small imperfect pearl

   type of:

   jewellery, jewelry

   an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)
2. noun

   a person who is as brilliant and precious as a piece of jewelry
   synonyms: gem

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
3. verb

   adorn or decorate with precious stones
   “jeweled dresses”

   synonyms: bejewel

   type of:

   adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, grace, ornament

   make more attractive by adding ornament, color, etc.