emerald

emerald — noun

IPA/ˈem.ə.rəld/
KK[ˈɛmrəld]IPA/ˈem.ə.rəld/
  • emeraldsingular
  • emeraldsplural

1. a rare bright-green gemstone whose colour comes from traces of chromium in the m

1.nounB2
Definition

a rare bright-green gemstone whose colour comes from traces of chromium in the mineral beryl; it is cut and polished for use in rings, necklaces, earrings, and other fine jewellery.

Example

Aoi inherited a delicate emerald bracelet from her grandmother, who had worn it for decades.

inherited emerald bracelet as a family heirloom

The gemologist held the raw emerald up to the light and noted a few tiny natural marks inside it.

raw emerald examined before cutting

Common collocations
  • emerald ring
  • emerald necklace
  • emerald mine
  • emerald deposit
  • square-cut emerald
  • raw emerald
  • flawless emerald
Synonyms
  • beryl

    the mineral group that emerald belongs to; beryl itself is colourless or pale, while emerald is the green variety

  • gemstone

    any precious or semi-precious stone; a more general term for emerald

  • jade

    a different green stone that is tougher but less transparent; often confused with emerald by non-experts

Grammar Patterns

emerald + verb (as subject)

emerald + noun (as modifier)

Usage Note

Frequently used as a modifier before another noun (emerald ring, emerald mine). Natural emeralds almost always contain small inclusions; a flawless emerald is extremely rare and expensive.

Common Mistakes

She bought a emerald necklace.
She bought an emerald necklace.
'emerald' starts with a vowel sound, so the article is 'an'.

2. a rich vivid green shade, similar to the colour of the gemstone called an emeral

2.nounB2
Definition

a rich vivid green shade, similar to the colour of the gemstone called an emerald; often used in fashion, interior design, and nature descriptions.

Example

Dewi chose a deep emerald for the walls of her study because it made the room feel calm and elegant.

deep emerald as a paint colour for interiors

The designer added several emerald cushions to the grey sofa, giving the living room a fresh and luxurious look.

Common collocations
  • deep emerald
  • striking emerald
  • rich emerald
  • emerald green
  • emerald-coloured
Synonyms
  • green

    the general colour category; emerald is a specific shade of green

  • jade

    another green colour, usually slightly more yellow-green than emerald

  • forest green

    a darker, less vivid green, often used in fashion; less bright than emerald

Grammar Patterns

emerald as a colour noun: 'a deep emerald'

Usage Note

Often appears after the adjective 'deep' (a deep emerald) to distinguish the richest shade of this colour. Can also be used as a compound modifier: emerald-green.

Common Mistakes

The dress was emerald colour.
The dress was emerald.' or 'The dress was emerald-coloured.' or 'The dress was an emerald green.
when using emerald as a colour name, it typically stands alone or forms a compound.

emerald — adjective

IPA/ˈemərəld/
KK[ˈɛmrəld]IPA/ˈemərəld/

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Emerald, jade, peridot, and beryl are all green stones, but they differ in mineral composition, appearance, and value. Emerald is a variety of beryl whose green colour comes from chromium or vanadium; it is transparent, relatively soft, and classed as a precious gemstone alongside diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Jade refers to two different minerals (nephrite and jadeite) that are much tougher than emerald, often more opaque, and traditionally carved into ornaments in East Asian cultures. Peridot is a yellow-green gemstone from the olivine mineral family; it has a distinct golden-green tone and is less expensive than emerald. Beryl is the mineral family that includes emerald, aquamarine, and morganite — while emerald is the green beryl, colourless beryl is not considered a gemstone. For everyday use, emerald and jade are the two terms most likely to be confused; a simple test is to remember that jewellery described as 'emerald' is usually transparent and faceted, whereas 'jade' is typically polished into smooth shapes.

emerald ↗jade ↗peridotberyl ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • emerald mine
  • emerald jewellery
  • emerald market
  • emerald trade
  • emerald deposit

Phrases

  • deep emerald
  • rich emerald
  • striking emerald
  • emerald green
  • emerald-coloured

Prepositions

  • set with emeralds
  • carved from emerald

Etymology

Semitic (probable)GreekLatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'emerald' entered English in the 13th century from Old French 'esmeraude', which came from Latin 'smaragdus', itself borrowed from Greek 'smaragdos' — a word used in antiquity for several green gemstones. The Greek term may have Semitic roots; a related word appears in ancient Hebrew as 'bāreḵeṯ', referring to a green stone in the biblical high priest's breastplate. The modern mineralogical definition as a green variety of beryl became established in the 18th century.