semi-precious

See also: semiprecious

English

Alternative forms

• semiprecious

Etymology

semi- +‎ precious

Adjective

semi-precious (not comparable)

1. Sort of or somewhat precious or valuable. Usually used as part of the phrase semi-precious stones or semi-precious gems.
   • 2009, Simon Cox, Decoding The Lost Symbol, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 156:

     This semiprecious stone, which resembles green glass, has gemlike qualities and is often used in jewelry.

Usage notes

In modern English, the semi-precious stones are those other than diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.

Derived terms

• semi-precious stones
• semi-precious gems

Translations

sort of or somewhat precious or valuable

• Armenian: կիսաթանկարժեք (hy) (kisatʻankaržekʻ)
• Bulgarian: полускъпоценен (poluskǎpocenen)
• Finnish: puolijalo (fi) (of a gem), arvokas (fi), arvo- (fi) (valuable)
• Georgian: ნახევრადძვირფასი (naxevradʒvirpasi)
• German: halbedel
• Italian: semiprezioso
• Polish: półszlachetny
• Russian: полудрагоце́нный (ru) (poludragocénnyj)
• Spanish: semiprecioso
• Welsh: lled-werthfawr

Further reading

• gemstone on Wikipedia.Wikipedia