ruby
/ˈruː.bi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruː.bi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrü-bē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈruːbi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruːbi/ (ame, ipa)
ruby — noun
- rubysingular
- rubiesplural
1. a valuable bright-red gemstone, found as a natural mineral and often set into ri
a valuable bright-red gemstone, found as a natural mineral and often set into rings, necklaces, and other jewellery
Amara's engagement ring held a deep-red ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds.
collocation: ruby + diamond; ruby ring
The museum displayed a Burmese ruby the size of a quail's egg.
Soren saved for two years to buy his mother a ruby pendant.
Miners in the valley discovered a rough ruby inside a chunk of dark rock.
The crown sparkled with rows of rubies and sapphires set in gold.
2. a deep, vivid shade of red, like the colour of the ruby gemstone
a deep, vivid shade of red, like the colour of the ruby gemstone
The sunset deepened into a rich ruby that painted the whole sky.
colour term: ruby as a shade name
Yara chose a lipstick in ruby for the wedding reception.
The artist mixed crimson and violet to get exactly the ruby she wanted.
Kwame's new scarf was a warm ruby that stood out against his grey coat.
The velvet curtains had faded from ruby to a pale pink over the years.
3. an informal British term for a curry, shortened from the rhyming slang phrase 'r
an informal British term for a curry, shortened from the rhyming slang phrase 'ruby murray'
After the pub, the lads headed down the high street for a ruby.
British informal: 'a ruby' = a curry
Ingrid had never tried a ruby until her London flatmate took her out for one.
Friday night meant a few pints and a ruby at the place near the station.
Farah laughed when her dad called the takeaway curry 'a proper ruby.'
The taxi driver told Wei where to find the best ruby in town.
用法筆記
Shortened from the rhyming slang 'ruby murray.' Common in informal British English, especially in pub culture. Rarely understood outside the UK.
常見錯誤
4. a style of port wine that is reddish-purple, with a fruity flavour of berries, a
a style of port wine that is reddish-purple, with a fruity flavour of berries, and typically aged in large tanks rather than wooden barrels
Jun brought a bottle of ruby to share after the dinner party.
collocation: bottle of ruby
The cheeseboard paired well with a young ruby from the Douro Valley.
Esteban preferred ruby over tawny port for its bold berry flavour.
Grandfather opened a vintage ruby that had waited in the cellar for ten years.
The label described the ruby as having notes of blackberry and plum.
- tawny port
a different style of port, aged in wooden barrels, giving it a brownish colour and nutty flavour
- vintage port
a higher-quality port from a single exceptional year, aged much longer than standard ruby
用法筆記
Used specifically of port wine. Ruby port is typically younger and fruitier than tawny port, with little or no wood ageing. Not a general term for red wine.
常見錯誤
ruby — adjective
- rubypositive
- rubiercomparative
- rubiestsuperlative
1. having a deep, rich red colour like that of the ruby gemstone
having a deep, rich red colour like that of the ruby gemstone
Noor wore a ruby dress that matched the flowers on every table.
collocation: ruby + clothing (dress)
The ruby curtains made the small theatre feel warm and grand.
Thandiwe's bold ruby front door welcomed every visitor to the house.
The sunset left a ruby glow across the mountain peaks.
Dmitri's ruby scarf added the only splash of colour on the grey street.
2. describing a port wine that is reddish-purple and has the fresh, fruity taste of
describing a port wine that is reddish-purple and has the fresh, fruity taste of berries, as opposed to the nutty, brownish character of aged tawny port
The sommelier recommended a ruby port to go with the dark chocolate dessert.
collocation: ruby port
We tasted three ruby wines before choosing one for the wedding.
This ruby Douro wine is younger and fruitier than the aged tawny.
The bottle of ruby port lasted the whole family through the holiday weekend.
A chilled ruby port can be a surprising match for a summer fruit tart.
- tawny
the contrasting port style: brownish, nutty, and aged in wood rather than young and fruity
用法筆記
Only used to describe port wine. Not a general colour adjective — for describing red objects in everyday contexts, use sense 1 (DARK RED).