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diamond definition

dia·mond (mənd, dīə mənd)

noun

  1. a usually colorless, crystalline mineral consisting of pure carbon, with nearly perfect cleavage and the greatest hardness of any substance: unflawed, transparent stones are cut into gems of great brilliance, and less perfect forms are used for cutting tools, abrasives, etc.
  2. a gem or other piece cut from this mineral
    1. a lozenge-shaped plane figure (♦)
    2. any of a suit of playing cards marked with such figures in red
    3. this suit of cards
  3. Baseball
    1. the infield
    2. the whole playing field

Etymology: ME diamaunt < OFr diamant < ML diamas (gen. diamantis), for L adamas < Gr, adamant, diamond

adjective

  1. of, like, or set with a diamond or diamonds
  2. marking or celebrating the 60th, or sometimes 75th, year a diamond jubilee

transitive verb

to adorn with or as with diamonds
diamond Idioms

diamond in the rough

  1. a diamond in its natural state
  2. a person or thing of fine quality but lacking polish

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