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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A precious stone; a gem.
  2. n. A small natural or artificial gem used as a bearing in a watch.
  3. n. A costly ornament of precious metal or gems.
  4. n. One that is treasured or esteemed.
  5. v. To adorn with jewels.
  6. v. To fit with jewels.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. A precious stone or gem; especially, a gem cut and shaped for ornament or use: as, the jewels of a crown.
  2. n. An article of personal adornment, consisting of a gem or gems in a setting of precious metal; also, formerly, any piece of jewel-work, or a trinket or ornament worn on the person, as a ring, a bracelet, or a brooch.
  3. n. An ornament of precious stones, or metal, enamel, etc., worn as a decoration, or as the badge of an honorary order: as, the jewel of the Garter.
  4. n. A precious stone used in watchmaking, on account of its hardness and resistance to wear, as where a pivot turns in a socket.
  5. n. An imitation, in glass or enamel, of areal jewel. See jeweled, 3.
  6. n. In colored-glass windows, etc., a projecting boss of glass, sometimes cut with facets, introduced in the design to give variety and richness of effect.
  7. n. Anything of great value or rare excellence; anything especially fine or dear: sometimes applied to persons as a term of high commendation or tender endearment.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.
  2. n. A valuable object used for personal ornamentation, especially one made of precious metals and stones; a piece of jewellery.
  3. n. Anything considered precious or valuable.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. An ornament of dress usually made of a precious metal, and having enamel or precious stones as a part of its design.
  2. n. A precious stone; a gem.
  3. n. An object regarded with special affection; a precious thing.
  4. n. A bearing for a pivot a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone, as a ruby.
  5. v. To dress, adorn, deck, or supply with jewels, as a dress, a sword hilt, or a watch; to bespangle, as with jewels; to bejewel.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a person who is as brilliant and precious as a piece of jewelry
  2. n. a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
  3. v. adorn or decorate with precious stones

Etymologies

  1. Middle English juel, from Anglo-Norman, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *iocāle, from neuter of *iocālis, of play, from Latin iocus, joke; see yek- in Indo-European roots.

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‘jewel’ has been looked up 1876 times, loved by 1 person, added to 28 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 15.