BRILLIANT • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Brilliant

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/brˈɪljənt/ Listen

adjective

Brilliant adj.

Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant star.

Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents. "Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to perform brilliant exploits."

Exceedingly intelligent, or of distinguished accomplishment in a field; as, a brilliant chemist.

Synonyms: See Shining.

noun

Brilliant n.

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."

(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.

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Etymology of 'Brilliant'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Brilliant" Quotes from Famous Books

... diligence. The village also had finished its supper and was drifting in family groups into the piazza. The moon was just showing above the house-tops, and its light, combined with the blazing braziers before the cook-shops, made the square a patchwork of brilliant high-lights and black shadows from deep-cut doorways. Constance sat up alertly and watched the people crowding past. Across from the inn an itinerant show had established itself on a rudely improvised stage, with two flaring torches which threw their light ...

— Jerry • Jean Webster

... Vail had selected the right man to make his dreams come true; Carty now had the executive who would make it possible for him to accomplish even larger things. He set about building up the engineering organization which was to accomplish the work, selecting the most brilliant graduates of American technical schools. He set this organization to work upon the extension and development of the ...

— Masters of Space - Morse, Thompson, Bell, Marconi, Carty • Walter Kellogg Towers

... is essential to conversation; so much may be admitted by anyone who knows what conversation is. Once arguing at a table in a tavern the most famous man on earth would wish to be obscure, so that his brilliant remarks might blaze like the stars on the background of his obscurity. To anything worth calling a man nothing can be conceived more cold or cheerless than to be king of your company. But it may be said that in masculine sports and games, ...

— What's Wrong With The World • G.K. Chesterton

... silhouetted against the window, the edge of the wristband caught her attention again, and grew strangely significant. This man was passing through adversity! It seemed tragic and shocking to her that he should have to pass through adversity, that he could not remain for ever triumphant, brilliant, cocksure in all his grand schemes, and masculinely scathless. It seemed wrong to her that he should suffer, and desirable that anybody should suffer rather than he. George Cannon with faulty linen! By what error of destiny had this ...

— Hilda Lessways • Arnold Bennett

... eclat of personal endowment, education, and accomplishment,— of success in the fashionable exercises and graces of his age,—and of that reckless prodigality which obtains popular homage and applause in a prince. Henry VIII. in his youth was one of the most brilliant personages of Europe. A fine person,—the accomplishments of his time in literature and the arts,—the display of gorgeous prodigality,—raised him to a sort of chivalrous rivalry with Francis I. In mental culture he excelled George IV., ...

— The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Vol. 19, Issue 545, May 5, 1832 • Various

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