gem Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
    treasure.
  2. noun a crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry
    stone; gemstone.
    • he had the gem set in a ring for his wife
    • she had jewels made of all the rarest stones
  3. noun a person who is as brilliant and precious as a piece of jewelry
    jewel.
  4. noun a sweet quick bread baked in a cup-shaped pan
    muffin.
  5. noun a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
    jewel; precious stone.

WordNet

Gem noun
Etymology
OE. gemme precious stone, F. gemme, fr. L. gemma a precious stone, bud.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A bud.
    From the joints of thy prolific stem A swelling knot is raised called a gem. Denham.
  2. A precious stone of any kind, as the ruby, emerald, topaz, sapphire, beryl, spinel, etc., especially when cut and polished for ornament; a jewel. Milton.
  3. Anything of small size, or expressed within brief limits, which is regarded as a gem on account of its beauty or value, as a small picture, a verse of poetry, a witty or wise saying.
Gem transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Gemmed ; present participle & verbal noun Gemming
Definitions
  1. To put forth in the form of buds. "Gemmed their blossoms." R. Milton.
  2. To adorn with gems or precious stones.
  3. To embellish or adorn, as with gems; as, a foliage gemmed with dewdrops.
    England is . . . gemmed with castles and palaces. W. Irving.

Webster 1913