gem

UK: /ˈdʒɛm/ US: /dʒɛm/ ,( jem)

Inflections of 'gem' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

gems

v 3rd person singular

gemming

v pres p

gemmed

v past

gemmed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gem /dʒɛm/   n. 

[countable]
1. Jewelry a mineral, pearl, or other natural substance valued for its rarity and beauty and used in jewelry:
   diamonds and other gems.
2. something prized because of its beauty or worth:
   That new book is a gem.
3. a person held in great esteem or affection.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gem  ( jem), n., v., gemmed, gem•ming, adj. 
n. 

1. Jewelry a cut and polished precious stone or pearl fine enough for use in jewelry.
2. something likened to or prized as such a stone because of its beauty or worth:
   His painting was the gem of the collection.
3. a person held in great esteem or affection.
4. Food muffin (def. 1).
5. Printing a 4-point type of a size between brilliant and diamond.

v.t. 

6. to adorn with or as with gems;
   begem.

adj. 

7. Jewelry noting perfection or very high quality:
   gem color; a gem ruby.

• Latin
• Latin gemma bud, jewel; replacing Middle English yimme, Old English gim(m)
• Old French
• Middle English gemme 1275–1325

gem′less, adj. 
gem′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. treasure, prize, jewel, pearl.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gem / dʒɛm/ noun

1. a precious or semiprecious stone used in jewellery as a decoration; jewel
2. a person or thing held to be a perfect example; treasure

verb (gems, gemming, gemmed)

1. (transitive) to set or ornament with gems

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French gemme, from Latin gemma bud, precious stone

ˈgemˌlike adjective

ˈgemmy adjective