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brilliant
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As an adjective, brilliant means shining brightly. As a noun, it means 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.
Meanings of brilliant
14 meaningsadjective
Shining brightly.
“the brilliant lights along the promenade”
of a colourBoth bright and saturated.
“butterflies with brilliant blue wings”
of a voicesoundHaving a sharp, clear tone.
UKOf surpassing excellence.
“The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.”
UKMagnificent or wonderful.
Highly intelligent.
“She is a brilliant scientist.”
Having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence
“our project needs brainy women”
“a brilliant mind”
“a brilliant solution to the problem”
Similar: brainy, smart as a whipCharacterized by grandeur
“the brilliant court life at Versailles”
“a glorious work of art”
“magnificent cathedrals”
Similar: glorious, magnificent, splendidFull of light; shining intensely
“a brilliant star”
“brilliant chandeliers”
noun
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.
Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.
A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.
Older and rare meanings (1)
printingdatedThe size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).