gem

/dʒem/ (bre, ipa) · [dʒˈɛm] /dʒem/ (ame, ipa) · [dʒˈɛm] /ˈjem/ (ame, mw)

gem — noun

  • gemsingular
  • gemsplural

1. any of various valuable stones that people cut and polish for use in jewellery s

1.名詞B1
釋義

any of various valuable stones that people cut and polish for use in jewellery such as rings and necklaces

例句

Liam bought a small blue gem to put in a silver ring for his sister.

countable noun + colour adjective

Gem collectors use special tools to examine the cut and colour of each stone.

compound noun: gem collector

同義詞
  • jewel

    more common in everyday speech for a set stone in jewellery

  • precious stone

    more formal; often used in descriptions of value or geology

  • gemstone

    used for the stone before it is set in jewellery

反義詞
  • pebble

    a small, common stone with no value

文法句型

gem + noun (gem cutter, gem collector)

adjective + gem

gem + of + noun (a gem of a stone)

用法筆記

In everyday conversation, speakers often name the specific stone (diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire) rather than using the general word gem. The word gem appears most often in writing about jewellery-making, mining, or gemology.

常見錯誤

❌He bought a diamond gem for his wife.
✅He bought a diamond for his wife.
💡When you name a specific stone, do not also add 'gem' after it.
❌She has many gems in her collection, like rubies and emeralds.
✅She has many gemstones in her collection, like rubies and emeralds.
💡For the raw stone, 'gemstone' is more natural than 'gem'.

2. a wonderful person, a delightful place, or an excellent thing — for example, a q

2.名詞B2
釋義

a wonderful person, a delightful place, or an excellent thing — for example, a quiet beach that few tourists know about, a cook who makes amazing meals, or a book with surprising wisdom

例句

That café on Elm Street is a hidden gem with excellent coffee and fresh pastries.

collocation: hidden gem

Arjun is a real gem — he always stays late to help colleagues finish their work.

collocation: real gem (for a person)

同義詞
  • treasure

    similar meaning but suggests something kept and cherished over time

  • jewel

    less common for people; more often used for objects or places

  • pearl

    used almost exclusively with 'of' (a pearl of wisdom); more formal

  • star

    focuses on skill or talent rather than overall quality of character

反義詞
  • dud

    informal; something that fails or disappoints

  • disappointment

    something that does not meet expectations

文法句型

hidden gem

real gem

gem of a + noun

absolute gem

用法筆記

The phrase 'hidden gem' is extremely common for describing an undiscovered or little-known place (café, beach, park). When describing a person, 'absolute gem' or 'real gem' is more natural than 'hidden gem'.

常見錯誤

❌She is a gem of the team.
✅She is a gem on the team.' or 'She's an absolute gem.
💡Use 'on' not 'of' when referring to a group, or drop the group reference entirely.

3. a small, round, sweet bread similar to a muffin, baked in a pan with cup-shaped

3.名詞C1
釋義

a small, round, sweet bread similar to a muffin, baked in a pan with cup-shaped holes; often made with cornmeal or fruit

例句

The bakery sells fresh corn gems every morning, served warm with butter.

compound: corn gems

Aaron baked a batch of blueberry gems for the school bake sale.

同義詞
  • muffin

    the more widely used term across all varieties of English

  • cupcake

    different — a cupcake is a small cake with icing

文法句型

plural: gems

corn gem / blueberry gem

用法筆記

This sense is chiefly used in American English, especially in the northern and midwestern United States. In other varieties of English, 'muffin' is the standard term for this type of baked good.