diamond

[ dahy-muh nd, dahy-uh- ]

/ ˈdaɪ mənd, ˈdaɪ ə- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR diamond ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a pure or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon, naturally crystallized in the isometric system.

a piece of this stone.

a transparent, flawless or almost flawless piece of this stone, especially when cut and polished, valued as a precious gem.

a ring or other piece of jewelry containing such a precious stone, especially an engagement ring.

a piece of this stone used in a drill or cutting tool.

a tool provided with such an uncut stone, used for cutting glass.

crystallized carbon, or a piece of it, artificially produced.

an equilateral quadrilateral, especially as placed with its diagonals vertical and horizontal; a lozenge or rhombus.

any rhombus-shaped figure or object oriented with its diagonals vertical and horizontal.

a red rhombus-shaped figure on a playing card.

a card of the suit bearing such figures.

diamonds, (used with a singular or plural verb) the suit so marked: Diamonds is trump. Diamonds are trump.

Baseball.

the space enclosed by home plate and the three bases; infield.
the entire playing field.

Printing. a 4½-point type of a size between brilliant and pearl.

adjective

made of or set with a diamond or diamonds.

having the shape of a diamond: a dress with a diamond print.

indicating the 75th, or sometimes the 60th, event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

verb (used with object)

to adorn with or as if with diamonds.

Idioms for diamond

diamond in the rough, a person of fine character but lacking refined manners or graces.

Origin of diamond

1275–1325; Middle English diamant < Old French < Vulgar Latin *diamant-, stem of *diamas, perhaps alteration of *adimas (> French aimant magnet, Old Provençal aziman diamond, magnet), for Latin adamas adamant, diamond

OTHER WORDS FROM diamond

dia·mond·like, adjective

Words nearby diamond

diametrical, diametrically, diamide, diamine, diammonium phosphate, diamond, diamond anniversary, diamond bar, diamond bird, diamond drill, diamond dust

British Dictionary definitions for diamond in the rough

diamond

/ (ˈdaɪəmənd) /

noun

a colourless exceptionally hard mineral (but often tinted yellow, orange, blue, brown, or black by impurities), found in certain igneous rocks (esp the kimberlites of South Africa). It is used as a gemstone, as an abrasive, and on the working edges of cutting tools. Composition: carbon. Formula: C. Crystal structure: cubic
(as modifier)a diamond ring Related adjective: diamantine

geometry

a figure having four sides of equal length forming two acute angles and two obtuse angles; rhombus
(modifier) rhombic

a red lozenge-shaped symbol on a playing card
a card with one or more of these symbols or (when plural) the suit of cards so marked

baseball

the whole playing field
the square formed by the four bases

(formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 4 1/2 point

black diamond a figurative name for coal

rough diamond

an unpolished diamond
a person of fine character who lacks refinement and polish

verb

(tr) to decorate with or as with diamonds

Derived forms of diamond

diamond-like, adjective

Word Origin for diamond

C13: from Old French diamant, from Medieval Latin diamas, modification of Latin adamas the hardest iron or steel, diamond; see adamant

Scientific definitions for diamond in the rough

diamond

[ dī′ə-mənd ]

A form of pure carbon that occurs naturally as a clear, cubic crystal and is the hardest of all known minerals. It often occurs as octahedrons with rounded edges and curved surfaces. Diamond forms under conditions of extreme temperature and pressure and is most commonly found in volcanic breccias and in alluvial deposits. Poorly formed diamonds are used in abrasives and in industrial cutting tools.

Cultural definitions for diamond in the rough

diamond in the rough

Someone or something with potential or talent but lacking training or polish: “Her singing voice is beautiful, but she needs help with her gestures; she's a diamond in the rough.” This phrase refers to the fact that diamonds found in nature are rough and uneven. They must be cut and polished to bring out their true beauty.

Idioms and Phrases with diamond in the rough

diamond in the rough

Also, a rough diamond. A person of exceptional character or potential but lacking polish and refinement. For example, Jack is intelligent and trustworthy but lacks manners—he's a diamond in the rough. [Early 1600s]

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

diamond