Emerald Meaning
/ˈɛm.(ə.)ɹəld/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny of various green gemstones, especially a green transparent form of beryl, highly valued as a precious stone.
nounEmerald green, a colour.
Sentence Examples
Rare gems include aquamarine, amethyst, emerald, quartz and ruby.
Tom does not know the difference between a diamond and an emerald.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The queen's crown featured a large, flawless ____ surrounded by diamonds.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She wore a stunning necklace with a large green ____ stone.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English emeraude, borrowed from Old French esmeraude, from Vulgar Latin *smaralda, *smaraldus, *smaraudus, variant of Latin smaragdus, from Ancient Greek σμάραγδος (smáragdos), μάραγδος (máragdos), from a Semitic language. Compare Hebrew בָּרֶקֶת (bāréqeṯ, “emerald, flashing gem”), Akkadian 𒁀𒊏𒄣 (baraqu, literally “scintillation”), Arabic بَرْق (barq, literally “flashing”), Egyptian bwyrqꜣ (literally “to sparkle”):D58-Z7-Z4:D21-N29-Z1-G1-D6 and loanwords with Semitic etymon such as Sanskrit मरकत (marakata).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade."
— 2012 March 26, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2012, page 128:
"16. As the first. Crest, on a Mount Emerald, a Falcon rising Topaz."
— 1726, John Guillim, The Banner Display'd, page 504:
"Crest. On a Wreath, a demi Dragon, Emerald, armed and langued, Roby [...] Supporters. Two Dragons reguardant, Emerald, [...]"
— 1754, John Lodge, The Peerage of Ireland; Or, a Genealogical History of the ..., page 212:
"Some of the lagoons, said to have subterranean outlets, have no visible ones; the inclosing island, in such cases, being a complete zone of emerald."
— 1847 March 30, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
"The insect-queen of eastern spring, / O'er emerald meadows of Kashmeer / Invites the young pursuer near, / And leads him on from flower to flower / A weary chase and wasted hour."
— 1813, Lord Byron, The Giaour:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The queen's crown featured a large, flawless ____ surrounded by diamonds.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She wore a stunning necklace with a large green ____ stone.