ruby

Everyday

1. A ruby is a precious stone with a deep red colour, used in rings and necklaces. tree →
2. Ruby, or ruby-red, is a deep, rich red colour. tree →
3. (a name) Ruby is a girl's name. tree →
4. (computers) Ruby is a programming language. tree →
5. A ruby wedding anniversary is the 40th one. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography, rubies are a form of the mineral corundum, very hard, mined in places like Myanmar. In stories, rubies are treasure and jewels in crowns. In fairy tales, Dorothy's ruby slippers come from the film of The Wizard of Oz. Many girls in schools in the UK, Australia and NZ are called Ruby.

Examples

• The queen's crown sparkled with rubies and diamonds. tree →
• Mum's ring has a small ruby in the middle. tree →
• Her lips were painted ruby red. tree →
• Dorothy clicked the heels of her ruby slippers. tree →
• Rubies are very hard; only diamonds are much harder. tree →
• My friend Ruby lives next door. tree →
• Grandma and Grandpa celebrated their ruby wedding — 40 years! tree →
• Rubies are dug out of the ground and then cut and polished. tree →
• The princess herself had a snow-white steed, decked with diamonds and rubies. tree →

Note

Plural: rubies (y → ies). The name Ruby has a capital. Fact check: diamond is the hardest gem; ruby and sapphire (both corundum) are next, equally hard. Ruby is red; sapphire is the same mineral in other colours, mostly blue.

In Jewish tradition

Proverbs says wisdom and a good woman are worth more than rubies.

Interpretation. Tradition reads Proverbs 31 ("A woman of valour") as praise for a good wife, sung on Friday night, and also as a picture of wisdom or the Torah.

Examples

• A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies. (Writings PRO.31.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her. (Writings PRO.8.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. (Writings PRO.20.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: rubies (y → ies). The name Ruby has a capital. Fact check: diamond is the hardest gem; ruby and sapphire (both corundum) are next, equally hard. Ruby is red; sapphire is the same mineral in other colours, mostly blue.