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Glite Dictionary
balas ruby

balas ruby

9.9
A pale pink stone used as a jewel that looks like a ruby but is a different mineral
  • noun
  • /ˈbeɪləs ˈruːbi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : rubí balas
  • The jeweler showcased a stunning balas ruby that sparkled with a soft pink hue.

Examples

  • Many collectors seek the rare balas ruby because it resembles the traditional ruby, but with a more delicate shade.

  • She inherited a beautiful balas ruby pendant from her grandmother, who cherished it for its unique color.

  • Hence, in 1402, Berry convinced the king to open the royal coffers and disburse 14,000 of the 18,000 cus he needed to purchase a fabulous balas ruby.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

balas
vsbalas ruby
  • Specialized
9.9

A pale pink gemstone that looks like a small ruby

is the variant name stressing past confusion with a true red gem

How Red

ruby
1 3.7
spinel ruby
  • Specialized
9.3
balas ruby
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

balas ruby singular
balas rubies plural

Morphology

balas + ruby

The phrase combines two noun constituents so a learner who knows 'balas' (a type of spinel) and 'ruby' will likely infer it refers to a gemstone related to or resembling a ruby, making the overall idea partly derivable. However, the precise, specialized sense — a pale rose-colored variety of spinel historically mistaken for true ruby — is technical and not fully predictable from the parts, so full understanding requires prior exposure.

Etymology

Balas ruby may come from a place called Balas where pale pink stones were found, and because the stones looked like a real 'ruby' people called them balas rubies. So today balas ruby means a pale rose gemstone that was once mistaken for a true 'ruby'.