brilliant

comparative more brilliant · superlative most brilliant

1. Shining brightly.

   the brilliant lights along the promenade

   Synonyms: glittering, shining

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.

   1 more example

   "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

   Synonyms: excellent, distinctive, striking, superb, exceptional, glorious, magnificent, marvellous

5. Highly intelligent.

   She is a brilliant scientist.

   Synonyms: brainy, ingenious

6. UKGreat, wonderful.

   https://youtu.be/aoag03mSuXQ?t=5139s He absolutely could have told us to get lost, and didn't. What a brilliant guy!

plural brilliants

1. countableuncountableA 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.

   1717, Alexander Pope, The Basset-Table

   2 more examples

   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

2. dateduncountablemediaThe size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
3. countableuncountableMost hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.
4. countableuncountableA kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

present singular third person brilliants · participle present brillianting · participle past brillianted · past brillianted

1. transitiveTo 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

1. An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Wells, Jefferson County, United States.

1. A town in Marion County, Alabama, United States.

1. A settlement in southeastern British Columbia, Canada.

1. An unincorporated community in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States.