Dictionary

brilliant en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈbɹɪ.li.ənt/
• /ˈbɹɪ(l)jənt/ (Australia, colloquial)
• /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Dravidian *weḷ Proto-Dravidian *ūr Proto-Dravidian *weḷ-ūr Proto-Indo-Iranian *i- Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Indo-Iranian *-kas Proto-Indo-Iranian *-ikas Sanskrit -इक (-ika) Prakrit -इय (-iya) Prakrit वेरुलिअ (vērulia)bor. Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos)bor. Latin bēryllusder. Italian brillarebor. French briller French brillantbor. English brilliant 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”). By surface analysis, French brill(er) + -i- + -ant.

Meanings

1. Shining brightly.
   • the brilliant lights along the promenade
2. (of a colour) Both bright and saturated.
   • butterflies with brilliant blue wings
3. (of a voice or sound) Having a sharp, clear tone.
4. Of surpassing excellence; magnificent.
   • The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.
   • "Thing is," Anahita resumed, and then, faltering, "Mean to say, well, we just think it's great." — "You, she means," Mishal corrected. "We think you're, you know." — "Brilliant," Anahita said and dazzled the bewildered Chamcha with a smile. "Magic. You know. Extreme." 1988, Salman Rushdie, chapter V, in The Satanic Verses, page 268:
5. Highly intelligent.
   • She is a brilliant scientist.
6. (UK, of a person) Great, wonderful.
   • https://youtu.be/aoag03mSuXQ?t=5139s He absolutely could have told us to get lost, and didn't. What a brilliant guy!

Forms

Deriveds

brilliant green · superbrilliant · brilliance · brillo · brilliant rummynose tetra · overbrilliant · brilliancy · ultrabrilliant · brilliantly · brilliantness · unbrilliant

Relateds

brilliantine · beryl · beryllium

Synonyms

magnificent (surpassing excellence) · superb (surpassing excellence) · wonderful (surpassing excellence) · ingenious (highly intelligent) · striking (surpassing excellence) · marvelous (surpassing excellence) · splendid (surpassing excellence) · shining (shining brightly) · marvellous (surpassing excellence) · brainy (highly intelligent) · distinctive (surpassing excellence) · glittering (shining brightly) · glorious (surpassing excellence) · exceptional (surpassing excellence) · excellent (surpassing excellence)

Translations (179)

ca brillant (of a colour: both light and saturated) · gl brillante (of a colour: both light and saturated) · eo brilaj (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · ru я́ркий (shining brightly) · hu briliáns (of surpassing excellence) · fr brillant (of surpassing excellence) · eo brilaj (highly intelligent) · hi प्रतिभाशाली (of surpassing excellence) · az parlaq (of surpassing excellence) · ru хруста́льный (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · pt brilhante (highly intelligent) · mi koea (shining brightly) · no enestående (highly intelligent) · bcl malaad (shining brightly) · mi wheriko (shining brightly) · fi kirkas (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · de strahlend (of a colour: both light and saturated) · ru блестя́щий (of a colour: both light and saturated) · fr brillant (shining brightly) · sv lysande (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · gl brillante (highly intelligent) · sv strålande (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · bg блестящ (of surpassing excellence) · no enestående (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · id brilian (highly intelligent) · de brillant (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · ga án (shining brightly) · bcl maliwanag (shining brightly) · it geniale (highly intelligent) · bcl matali (highly intelligent) · ru великоле́пный (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · ru блестя́щий (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · es brillante (of surpassing excellence) · pt brilhante (shining brightly) · it brillante (shining brightly) · de genial (highly intelligent) · es brillante (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · de brillant (of a colour: both light and saturated) · hi चमकीला (of a colour: both light and saturated) · cs skvělý (of surpassing excellence) · gd sgoinneil (of surpassing excellence) · hi प्रतिभावान (of surpassing excellence) · sv briljant (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · it fantastico (of surpassing excellence) · hy փայլուն (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · sv genialisk (highly intelligent) · bg блестящ (shining brightly) · no strålende (shining brightly) · eo brila (highly intelligent) · nl briljant (highly intelligent) · fi loistava (shining brightly) · cs brilantní (of surpassing excellence) · ca brillant (highly intelligent) · pt brilhante (of surpassing excellence) · uk блиску́чий (shining brightly) · sv virtuosmässig (of surpassing excellence) · lv spilgts (of surpassing excellence) · eo brila (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · no strålende (of a colour: both light and saturated) · sv gnistrande (shining brightly) · it squillante (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · nl meesterlijk (of surpassing excellence) · nl virtuoos (of surpassing excellence) · gl brillante (shining brightly) · az əla (of surpassing excellence) · cs zářivý (shining brightly) · pl błyskotny (of surpassing excellence) · fa درخشان (shining brightly) · pl błyszczący (shining brightly) · be бліску́чы (shining brightly) · sv storslagen (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · ca clar (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · ca brillant (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · lv izcils (highly intelligent) · vo nidik (shining brightly) · de brillant (highly intelligent) · sv briljant (highly intelligent) · nl schitterend (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · bg великолепен (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · it superlativo (of surpassing excellence) · it luccicante (shining brightly) · ca brillant (of surpassing excellence) · ota ایشق (shining brightly) · ar باهِر (shining brightly) · it eccezionale (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · ca brillant (shining brightly) · eo brila (shining brightly) · it brillante (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · nl briljant (of surpassing excellence) · txb lakᵤtse (shining brightly) · no genial (of surpassing excellence) · he מבריק (shining brightly) · bg искрящ (of a colour: both light and saturated) · az möhtəşəm (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · it talentuoso (highly intelligent) · it splendente (shining brightly) · ru блестя́щий (highly intelligent) · hi मेधावी (highly intelligent) · pl błyskotny (highly intelligent) · gv ard-inçhynagh (highly intelligent) · ru блестя́щий (shining brightly) · no storslagen (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · fa لیان (shining brightly) · hy փայլուն (highly intelligent) · la lūculentus (shining brightly) · lv spožs (of surpassing excellence) · sga gríanmar (shining brightly) · pa وَدّھِیا (of surpassing excellence) · no genial (highly intelligent) · pl błyskotliwy (of surpassing excellence) · pt claro (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · fr brillant (of a colour: both light and saturated) · fi loistava (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · no lysende (shining brightly) · ru блиста́тельный (of surpassing excellence) · bcl madunong (highly intelligent) · nl stralend (shining brightly) · sv mästerlig (of surpassing excellence) · sv glänsande (shining brightly) · fa تابان (shining brightly) · pl znakomity (of surpassing excellence) · fi säteilevä (shining brightly) · it brillante (highly intelligent) · fr brillant (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · de strahlend (shining brightly) · de brillant (of surpassing excellence) · de brillant (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · gl claro (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · fi loistava (of surpassing excellence) · ru сверка́ющий (shining brightly) · lv izcils (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · nb glimrende (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · ru со́чный (of a colour: both light and saturated) · nl geniaal (highly intelligent) · ru блестя́щий (of surpassing excellence) · pl genialny (highly intelligent) · no enestående (of surpassing excellence) · pt brilhante (of a colour: both light and saturated) · fi nerokas (highly intelligent) · pl świetny (of surpassing excellence) · lv spilgts (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · ota نورانی (shining brightly) · fr brillant (highly intelligent) · pl błyskotliwy (highly intelligent) · hy փայլուն (of surpassing excellence) · it brillante (of surpassing excellence) · es brillante (highly intelligent) · lv izcils (of surpassing excellence) · fr brillant (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · la lūculentus (of surpassing excellence) · eo brilaj (shining brightly) · ga lonrach (shining brightly) · gl brillante (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · eo brila (of surpassing excellence) · es brillante (of a colour: both light and saturated) · sv lysande (shining brightly) · cy gloyw (shining brightly) · es brillante (shining brightly) · it sgargiante (shining brightly) · vi thiên tài (highly intelligent) · it brillante (of a colour: both light and saturated) · it meraviglioso (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · gd sgoinneil (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · nl briljant (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · uk блиску́чий (highly intelligent) · hi चमकीला (shining brightly) · pt brilhante (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · fi loistava (of a colour: both light and saturated) · sv högt begåvad (highly intelligent) · bg ярък (shining brightly) · sv strålande (shining brightly) · eo brilaj (of surpassing excellence) · lv spožs (magnificent or wonderful (primarily UK usage)) · be бліску́чы (highly intelligent) · no klar (of a voice or sound: having a sharp, clear tone) · he מבריק (highly intelligent) · it di successo (highly intelligent) · gl brillante (of surpassing excellence) · it lucente (shining brightly)

brilliant en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈbɹɪ.li.ənt/
• /ˈbɹɪ(l)jənt/ (Australia, colloquial)
• /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Dravidian *weḷ Proto-Dravidian *ūr Proto-Dravidian *weḷ-ūr Proto-Indo-Iranian *i- Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Indo-Iranian *-kas Proto-Indo-Iranian *-ikas Sanskrit -इक (-ika) Prakrit -इय (-iya) Prakrit वेरुलिअ (vērulia)bor. Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos)bor. Latin bēryllusder. Italian brillarebor. French briller French brillantbor. English brilliant 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”). By surface analysis, French brill(er) + -i- + -ant.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) 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.
   • 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. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 257:
   • "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger. 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:
   • This snuffbox — on the hinge see brilliants shine. 1717, Alexander Pope, The Basset-Table:
2. (dated, uncountable) The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
3. (countable, uncountable) Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.
4. (countable, uncountable) A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Forms

Deriveds

trilliant

Descendants

berlian · Brillant

Translations (38)

de Brillant (cut gemstone) · el μπριγιάν (cut gemstone) · it brillante (cut gemstone) · fr brillant (hummingbird of the genus Heliodoxa) · it pietra preziosa (cut gemstone) · ka ბრილიანტი (cut gemstone) · nl briljant (cut gemstone) · tr pırlanta (cut gemstone) · fi briljantti (cut gemstone) · az brilyant (cut gemstone) · sv briljant (cut gemstone) · be брыльля́нт (cut gemstone) · nl halve petit (4-point type) · mel belian (cut gemstone) · eo brilianto (cut gemstone) · gl brillante (cut gemstone) · fr perle (4-point type) · de Diamant (4-point type) · nl diamant (4-point type) · es perla (4-point type) · nl robijn (4-point type) · ru брилья́нт (cut gemstone) · be брылья́нт (cut gemstone) · pt brilhante (cut gemstone) · kk жауһар (cut gemstone) · uk брилья́нт (cut gemstone) · it perla (4-point type) · hu briliáns (cut gemstone) · id berlian (cut gemstone) · fi säihkykolibri (hummingbird of the genus Heliodoxa) · fa برلیان (cut gemstone) · ca colibrí diamant (hummingbird of the genus Heliodoxa) · ms berlian (cut gemstone) · it gemma (cut gemstone) · fi neljän pisteen fontti (4-point type) · bg брилянт (cut gemstone) · ru бриллиа́нт (cut gemstone) · kk гауһар (cut gemstone)

brilliant en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈbɹɪ.li.ənt/
• /ˈbɹɪ(l)jənt/ (Australia, colloquial)
• /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Dravidian *weḷ Proto-Dravidian *ūr Proto-Dravidian *weḷ-ūr Proto-Indo-Iranian *i- Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Indo-Iranian *-kas Proto-Indo-Iranian *-ikas Sanskrit -इक (-ika) Prakrit -इय (-iya) Prakrit वेरुलिअ (vērulia)bor. Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos)bor. Latin bēryllusder. Italian brillarebor. French briller French brillantbor. English brilliant 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”). By surface analysis, French brill(er) + -i- + -ant.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To cut (a diamond) with many facets, to make it into a brilliant.
   • In short, the diamond owed more to being brillianted and polished, and well set, than to any intrinsic worth or solidity. 1851, The Western Literary Messenger, page 256:

Forms