brilliant
[ bril-yuh nt ]
/ ˈbrɪl yənt /
adjective
noun
Jewelry. a gem, especially a diamond, having any of several varieties of the brilliant cut.
Printing. a size of type about 3½-point.
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Origin of brilliant
1675–85; < French brillant shining, present participle of briller < Italian brillare to glitter (perhaps derivative of an expressive root); see -ant
Related forms
Synonym study
1. See bright.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for brilliant
British Dictionary definitions for brilliant
brilliant
/ (ˈbrɪljənt) /
adjective
noun
Also called: brilliant cut
- a popular circular cut for diamonds and other gemstones in the form of two many-faceted pyramids (the top one truncated) joined at their bases
- a diamond of this cut
(formerly) a size of a printer's type approximately equal to 4 point
Derived Forms
brilliantly, adverbWord Origin for brilliant
C17: from French brillant shining, from briller to shine, from Italian brillare, from brillo beryl
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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