brilliant
English edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
Adjective edit
brilliant (comparative more brilliant, superlative most brilliant)
- Shining brightly.
- the brilliant lights along the promenade
- (of a colour) Both bright and saturated.
- butterflies with brilliant blue wings
- (of a voice or sound) Having a sharp, clear tone.
- (British) Of surpassing excellence.
- The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.
- (British) Magnificent or wonderful.
- Highly intelligent.
- She is a brilliant scientist.
Synonyms edit
- (shining brightly): glittering, shining
- (of a colour: both light and saturated):
- (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone):
- (surpassing excellence): excellent, distinctive, striking, superb (obsolete except in UK usage)
- (magnificent or wonderful): exceptional, glorious, magnificent, marvellous/marvelous, splendid, wonderful (obsolete except in UK usage)
- (highly intelligent): brainy, ingenious
- See also Thesaurus:intelligent
Related terms edit
- brilliance
- brilliantine
- brilliantly
- brilliantness
- beryl (possibly)
- beryllium (possibly)
- brilliant green
- brilliant rummynose tetra
Translations edit
shining brightly
|
of a colour: both light and saturated
|
of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone
of surpassing excellence
|
magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)
|
highly intelligent
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
|
Noun edit
brilliant (countable and uncountable, plural brilliants)
- 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 [September, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Adventure III.—A Case of Identity.”, in Geo[rge] Newnes, editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, volume II (July to December), number [9], London: […], page 248, column 2:
- "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger.
- (uncountable, printing, dated) The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
- Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.
- A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.
Descendants edit
- (small type size): (German) Brillant
Translations edit
cut gemstone
|
4-point type
hummingbird of the genus Heliodoxa
|
Further reading edit
- “brilliant”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “brilliant”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “brilliant”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
Crimean Tatar edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
brilliant
Declension edit
Declension of brilliant
| nominative | brilliant |
|---|---|
| genitive | brilliantnıñ |
| dative | brilliantqa |
| accusative | brilliantnı |
| locative | brilliantta |
| ablative | brillianttan |