brilliant

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English

Etymology

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”).

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US)(file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈbɹɪljənt/

Adjective

brilliant (comparative more brilliant, superlative most brilliant)

  1. Shining brightly.
    the brilliant lights along the promenade
  2. (of a colour) Both bright and saturated.
    butterflies with brilliant blue wings
  3. (of a voice or sound) Having a sharp, clear tone.
  4. (British) Of surpassing excellence.
    The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.
  5. (British) Magnificent or wonderful.
  6. Highly intelligent.
    She is a brilliant scientist.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

brilliant (countable and uncountable, plural brilliants)

  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.
    • 1717, Alexander Pope, The Basset-Table:
      This snuffbox — on the hinge see brilliants shine.
    • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXII, in Francesca Carrara. , volume I, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 257:
      On the one, a plain massive band which matched the collar; on the other, a serpent; the tail reached nearly to the elbow, and the head rose a little from the wrist; the tongue of a ruby, the eyes of large brilliants.
    • 1891 , London: , page 248, column 2:
      "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger.
  3. (uncountable, printing, dated) The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
  4. Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.
  5. A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Descendants

Translations

Further reading

Crimean Tatar

Etymology

French brillant.

Noun

brilliant

  1. brilliant.

Declension

Declension of brilliant
nominative brilliant
genitive brilliantnıñ
dative brilliantqa
accusative brilliantnı
locative brilliantta
ablative brillianttan

References

  • Mirjejev, V. A., Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎, Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN
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