Ru"by (?), n.; pl. Rubies (#). [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See Rouge, red.]
1. Min.
A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red. It is a red crystallized variety of corundum.
⇒ Besides the true or Oriental ruby above defined, there are the balas ruby, or ruby spinel, a red variety of spinel, and the rock ruby, a red variety of garnet.
<-- artificially produced variants are used in jewelry and in lasers. -->
Of rubies, sapphires, and pearles white.
Chaucer.
2.
The color of a ruby; carmine red; a red tint.
The natural ruby of your cheeks.
Shak.
3.
That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.
4. Print.
See Agate, n., 2.
[Eng.]
5. Zool.
Any species of South American humming birds of the genus Clytolaema. The males have a ruby-colored throat or breast.
Ruby of arsenic, Ruby of sulphur Chem., a glassy substance of a red color and a variable composition, but always consisting chiefly of the disulphide of arsenic; -- called also ruby sulphur. -- Ruby of zinc Min., zinc sulphide; the mineral zinc blende or sphalerite. -- Ruby silver Min., red silver. See under Red.
© Webster 1913.
Ru"by, a.
Ruby-colored; red; as, ruby lips.
© Webster 1913.
Ru"by, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rubied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rubying.]
To make red; to redden.
[R.]
Pope.
© Webster 1913.