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Brilliant

//ˈbɹɪljənt// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Shining brightly.

    "the brilliant lights along the promenade"

  2. 2
    Both bright and saturated.

    "butterflies with brilliant blue wings"

  3. 3
    Having a sharp, clear tone.
  4. 4
    Of surpassing excellence; magnificent.

    "The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant."

  5. 5
    Highly intelligent.

    "She is a brilliant scientist."

Adjective
  1. 1
    full of light; shining intensely wordnet
  2. 2
    having strong or striking color wordnet
  3. 3
    characterized by grandeur wordnet
  4. 4
    having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence wordnet
  5. 5
    clear and sharp and ringing wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    of surpassing excellence wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A finely cut gemstone, especially a diamond, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to maximize light return through the top (called "table") of the stone. countable, uncountable

    "This snuffbox — on the hinge see brilliants shine."

  2. 2
    The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point. dated, uncountable
  3. 3
    Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving. countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To cut (a diamond) with many facets, to make it into a brilliant. transitive

    "In short, the diamond owed more to being brillianted and polished, and well set, than to any intrinsic worth or solidity."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French brillant (late 17th century), present participle of the verb briller, from Italian brillare, possibly from Latin berillus, beryllus (“a beryl, gem, eyeglass”), from Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos, “beryl”).

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French brillant (late 17th century), present participle of the verb briller, from Italian brillare, possibly from Latin berillus, beryllus (“a beryl, gem, eyeglass”), from Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos, “beryl”).

Etymology 3

Borrowed from French brillant (late 17th century), present participle of the verb briller, from Italian brillare, possibly from Latin berillus, beryllus (“a beryl, gem, eyeglass”), from Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos, “beryl”).

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