brilliant
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
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”).
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
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.
- (Britain) Of surpassing excellence.
- The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.
- (Britain) Magnificent or wonderful.
- Highly intelligent.
- She is a brilliant scientist.
SynonymsEdit
- (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 termsEdit
- brilliance
- brilliantine
- brilliantly
- brilliantness
- beryl (possibly)
- beryllium (possibly)
- brilliant green
- brilliant rummynose tetra
TranslationsEdit
shining brightly
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of a colour: both light and saturated
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of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone
of surpassing excellence
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magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)
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highly intelligent
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- 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
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NounEdit
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], 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.
- 1892 October 14, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of a Case of Identity”, in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, London: George Newnes, […], →OCLC, page 57:
- "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger.
- 1717, Alexander Pope, The Basset-Table
- (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.
DescendantsEdit
- (small type size): (German) Brillant
TranslationsEdit
cut gemstone
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4-point type
hummingbird of the genus Heliodoxa
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Further readingEdit
- brilliant in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- brilliant in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
- brilliant at OneLook Dictionary Search
Crimean TatarEdit
EtymologyEdit
NounEdit
brilliant
DeclensionEdit
Declension of brilliant
| nominative | brilliant |
|---|---|
| genitive | brilliantnıñ |
| dative | brilliantqa |
| accusative | brilliantnı |
| locative | brilliantta |
| ablative | brillianttan |