Crossword clues for brilliant
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Brilliant \Bril"liant\, n. [F. brillant. See Brilliant, a.]
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A diamond or other gem of the finest cut, formed into faces and facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is rendered more brilliant. It has at the middle, or top, a principal face, called the table, which is surrounded by a number of sloping facets forming a bizet; below, it has a small face or collet, parallel to the table, connected with the girdle by a pavilion of elongated facets. It is thus distinguished from the rose diamond, which is entirely covered with facets on the surface, and is flat below.
This snuffbox -- on the hinge see brilliants shine.
--Pope. -
(Print.) The smallest size of type used in England printing.
Note: This line is printed in the type called Brilliant.
A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.
Brilliant \Bril"liant\ (br[i^]l"yant), a. [F. brillant, p. pr. of briller to shine or sparkle (cf. Pr. & Sp. brillar, It. brillare), fr. L. beryllus a precious stone of sea-green color, Prov. It. brill. See Beryl.]
Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant star.
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Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents.
Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to perform brilliant exploits.
--Fisher Ames. -
Exceedingly intelligent, or of distinguished accomplishment in a field; -- as, a brilliant chemist.
Syn: See Shining.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1680s, from French brilliant "sparkling, shining" present participle of briller "to shine" (16c.), from Italian brillare "sparkle, whirl," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *berillare "to shine like a beryl," from berillus "beryl, precious stone," from Latin beryllus (see beryl). In reference to diamonds (1680s) it means a flat-topped cut invented 17c. by Venetian cutter Vincenzo Peruzzi.
Wiktionary
a. 1 shine brightly. 2 (context of a colour English) Both bright and saturated. 3 (context of a voice or sound English) having a sharp, clear tone 4 Of surpassing excellence. 5 magnificent or wonderful. 6 Highly intelligent. n. 1 A finely cut gemstone, especially a diamond, having many facets. 2 (context uncountable printing dated English) The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point. 3 A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.
WordNet
adj. of surpassing excellence; "a brilliant performance"; "a superb actor" [syn: superb]
having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence; "some men dislike brainy women"; "a brilliant mind"; "a brilliant solution to the problem" [syn: brainy, smart as a whip]
characterized by or attended with brilliance or grandeur; "the brilliant court life at Versailles"; "a glorious work of art"; "magnificent cathedrals"; "the splendid coronation ceremony" [syn: glorious, magnificent, splendid]
having striking color; "bright greens"; "brilliant tapestries"; "a bird with vivid plumage" [syn: bright, vivid]
full of light; shining intensely; "a brilliant star"; "brilliant chandeliers"
clear and sharp and ringing; "the bright sound of the trumpet section"; "the brilliant sound of the trumpets" [syn: bright]
Gazetteer
Housing Units (2000): 402
Land area (2000): 3.437389 sq. miles (8.902796 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 3.437389 sq. miles (8.902796 sq. km)
FIPS code: 09424
Located within: Alabama (AL), FIPS 01
Location: 34.022764 N, 87.767372 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 35548
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Brilliant
Wikipedia
Brilliant may refer to:
A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond.
Even with modern techniques, the cutting and polishing of a diamond crystal always result in a dramatic loss of weight; rarely is it less than 50%. The round brilliant cut is preferred when the crystal is an octahedron, as often two stones may be cut from one such crystal. Oddly shaped crystals such as macles are more likely to be cut in a fancy cut—that is, a cut other than the round brilliant—which the particular crystal shape lends itself to.
Brilliant is a 2004 thriller film starring Erika Eleniak and Bruce Boxleitner.
Brilliant were a British pop/rock group active in the 1980s. Although not commercially successful and mauled by the critics, they remain notable because of the personnel involved - Martin Glover aka Youth, formerly of Killing Joke and subsequently a top producer/remixer; Jimmy Cauty, later to find fame and fortune as one half of The KLF; and (prior to the band signing with WEA) Ben Watkins aka Juno Reactor. Equally notable was their management ( David Balfe), their record company A&R manager ( Bill Drummond, the other member of The KLF), and songwriting and production team ( Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman known as Stock Aitken Waterman).
Usage examples of "brilliant".
Today the main display was a diorama of the center of the Galaxy, with a brilliant pinpoint that must be Chandra itself, surrounded by an accretion disc and other astrophysical monstrosities.
His amiable manners and generous heart had endeared him to all, and in a short time his delicate feelings were respected, and the slightest allusion to ambiguity of birth cautiously avoided by all his associates, who, whatever might be their suspicions, thought his brilliant qualifications more than compensated for any want of ancestral distinction.
In page 216 of this work, allusion will be found by name to some of the brilliant wits who graced this festive board, and gave a lustre to the feast.
The yellow-eyed antlered man rode laughing dreadfully, crying out the avaunt that rallies hounds on the full chase, and his brilliant, white-gold horse flung forward with mane and tail flying.
For some little time the whole building was a blinding crimson mass, the towers continued to spout thick columns of rockets aloft, and overhead the sky was radiant with arrowy bolts which clove their way to the zenith, paused, curved gracefully downward, then burst into brilliant fountain-sprays of richly colored sparks.
The family had been founded four generations before when a brilliant designer had made his trillions, building among other things one of the first portable triple-lobe astrographic instruments.
The boy was trembling with excitement, his bright green eyes sparkling as he drank in the splendid vision of the mounted warriors, their gleaming weapons and splendid accouterments, the restless thaptors pawing at the dust, arching their proud necks restlessly, the brilliant bannerol snapping in a brisk breeze.
Upon a blank sheet of paper, in a brilliant blue ink, the hand of The Shadow wrote the name of Josiah Bartram, as though linking it with past events.
But conssidering the terrible sstuff he had to work with, Bassil did a brilliant job.
They were bedizened with every medallion and trinket imaginable, with ornate saddles and bridles of dyed leather, fabulous blankets, brilliant colors.
Meanwhile, my dear Bernard, be as happy as your brilliant talents should properly make you, and believe me yours ever, G.
In May and June it attracts attention by its bright green feathery foliage set off by cream-coloured bloom, whilst in September it bears a brilliant fruitage of berries, richly orange in colour at first, but presently of a clear ripe vermilion.
King Bester was of a brilliant living torch, a faceless column of fire that still screamed and leaped in impossible agony.
Not only was he a brilliant engine builder, he was a good man, and Blain and his wife Cece were two of the nicest people Lance had the privilege to know.
They wear tunics of flimsy satin, pink and yellow, red and white, black and white, red, green and white, in blotched stripes of brilliant colours that dazzle like an optical illusion, and they bedeck themselves with much jewellery made of red glass.