Which term refers to a gemstone's basic color determined by its light absorption?

The term that refers to a gemstone's basic color, which is determined by its light absorption, is "bodycolor." Bodycolor describes the inherent hue that a gemstone exhibits when light passes through it and is absorbed, as well as the color that remains after other optical effects, such as brilliance, have been considered. This is a fundamental aspect of how we identify and categorize colored stones, as the bodycolor greatly influences the overall appearance of the gemstone.

Brilliance, while often associated with gemstones, refers to the amount and quality of light that is reflected from the surface of a stone rather than its inherent color. The brilliant cut is a specific gem cutting technique designed to enhance brilliance and is not related to the basic color of the stone. Boule refers to a piece of material that is typically used for manufacturing gemstones or synthetic stones, but it does not define the color of the gemstone itself. Thus, bodycolor is the appropriate term for describing the primary color based on light absorption.