brilliant

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
11
Words With Friends
15
Letters
9
Pronunciation
/ˈbɹɪljənt/
See all 3 pronunciations
/ˈbɹɪljənt/ · /ˈbɹɪ(l)jənt/ · /ˈbrɪl(lɪ)jᵻnʈ/

Definition of brilliant

11 senses · 3 parts of speech · etymology included

adj

  1. Shining brightly.
    “the brilliant lights along the promenade”
See all 11 definitions

adj

  1. Shining brightly.
    “the brilliant lights along the promenade”
  2. Both bright and saturated.
    “butterflies with brilliant blue wings”
  3. 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."”
  5. Highly intelligent.
    “She is a brilliant scientist.”
  6. (UK)Great, wonderful.
    “https://youtu.be/aoag03mSuXQ?t=5139s He absolutely could have told us to get lost, and didn't. What a brilliant guy!”

noun

  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.
    “This snuffbox — on the hinge see brilliants shine.”
    “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.”
    “"And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger.”
  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.

verb

  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.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

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.

Words you can make from brilliant

134 playable · top: TIBIAL (8 pts)

Best play tibial 8 points

6-letter words

4 words

5-letter words

23 words

4-letter words

51 words

3-letter words

40 words

2-letter words

15 words

Hooks

1 extension · 1 back

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