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brilliance

 - 3 dictionary results

bril·liance

   [bril-yuhns]
–noun
1.
great brightness; luster: the brilliance of a fine diamond.
2.
excellence or distinction; conspicuous talent, mental ability, etc.
3.
splendor, elegance, or magnificence: the brilliance of the court of Louis XIV.
4.
Optics. that luminance of a body consisting of its saturation and brightness.
Use brilliance in a Sentence
Origin:
1745–55; brilli(ant) + -ance

—Related forms
o·ver·bril·liance, noun

—Synonyms
1. radiance, effulgence, refulgence. 2. illustriousness, preeminence; genius.

—Antonyms
1, 2. dullness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Word Origin & History

brilliance
1755, from brilliant (q.v.). Figurative sense (of wit, intelligence, etc.) is from 1779. Distinguished from brilliancy in that the latter usually is applied to things measurable in degrees.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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bril·liance   (brĭl'yəns)   
n.  

  1. The state or quality of being brilliant, as:

    1. Extreme brightness.

    2. Exceptional clarity and agility of intellect or invention.

  2. Splendor; magnificence.

  3. Music Sharpness and clarity of tone.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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