noun
paste
An imitation gemstone made of glass.
The stone in her antique ring is paste, not diamond.
Etymology
The word originally concerns a soft prepared mixture. In jewelry it was applied to glass compositions worked into imitation gems, then to the gems themselves.
More examples
- The necklace's center stone is a bright blue paste.
- These sparkling pastes look like diamonds until you examine them closely.
- The dealer admits that the supposed emerald is only paste.
Forms
paste · pastes
Similar words
- rhinestone
- Usually imitates a diamond; paste can imitate colored gems too.
- simulant
- Can imitate a gemstone using materials other than glass.