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brilliant definition

bril·liant (-yənt)

adjective

  1. shining brightly; sparkling
  2. vivid; intense
  3. very splendid or distinguished
  4. having or showing keen intelligence, great talent or skill, etc.

Etymology: Fr brillant, sparkling, prp. of briller, to sparkle, glitter < It brillare, sparkle, whirl

noun

a gem, esp. a diamond, cut in a certain way with many facets for maximum brilliance

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

brilliant Synonyms

brilliant

modif.

  1. Shining

    dazzling, gleaming, sparkling; see bright 1.

  2. Showing remarkable ability

    gifted, ingenious, profound, penetrating; see intelligent 1.

  3. Illustrious

    splendid, distinguished, excellent, eminent; see excellent, glorious 1. See syn. study at bright.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

brilliant Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • sunshine: Despite the brilliant sunshine, it is chilly here, far cooler than I expected.

Modifying Another Word

  • absolutely: I have to say it's an absolutely brilliant feeling!

Infinitive complement

  • watch: All bands were brilliant to watch and performed very well.

Used with adjective complement

  • cheek: Her pretty hat was a trifle on one side; her cheeks brilliant with excitement and anxiety.

Preposition: in

  • respect: Penny Matthews was brilliant in all respects as the mean-spirited, short suffering, boozing Miss Hannigan.

Preposition: with

  • excitement: Her pretty hat was a trifle on one side; her cheeks brilliant with excitement and anxiety.
brilliant usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

brilliant quotes

To give anaccurateand exhaustive account of the period would need a far less brilliant pen than mine.

-Beerbohm, Sir (Henry) Max(imilian)

Now we lament one Who danced on a plume of words, Sang with a fountain's panache, Dazzled like slate roofs in sun After rain, was flighty as birds And alone as a mountain ash. The ribald, inspired urchin Leaning over the lip Of his world, as over a rock pool Or a lucky dip, Found everything brilliant and virgin.

-Day-Lewis, Cecil

The brawling of a sparrow in the eaves, The brilliant moon and all the milky sky, And all that famous harmony of leaves, Has blotted out man's image and his cry.

-Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

brilliant quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"brilliant." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/brilliant>

APA Style

brilliant. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/brilliant

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