Brilliant

(brĭl′/yant), a. [Fr. brillant, p. pr. of briller, to shine or sparkle, Pr. & Sp. brillar, It. brillare, from Lat. beryllus, a precious stone of sea-green color, Prov. It. brill. See BERYL.]

1Sense 1. Sparkling with luster; glittering; as, a brilliant star.

2Sense 2. Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents.

Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to perform brilliant exploits. Ames.

Synonyms—See SHINING.

n. A diamond of the finest cut, formed into facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is rendered more glittering. It has at the middle, or top, a principal face, called the table, which is surrounded by a number of sloping facets; below it has a small face parallel to the table, connected by elongated facets with the edge of the upper part. It is thus distinguished from the rose diamond, which is entirely covered with facets on the surface, and is flat below. This snuff-box—on the hinge see brilliants shine. Pope.