[dahy-muh
nd, dahy-uh-] 
| 1. | a pure or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon, naturally crystallized in the isometric system. |
| 2. | a piece of this stone. |
| 3. | a transparent, flawless or almost flawless piece of this stone, esp. when cut and polished, valued as a precious gem. |
| 4. | a ring or other piece of jewelry containing such a precious stone, esp. an engagement ring. |
| 5. | a piece of this stone used in a drill or cutting tool. |
| 6. | a tool provided with such an uncut stone, used for cutting glass. |
| 7. | crystallized carbon, or a piece of it, artificially produced. |
| 8. | an equilateral quadrilateral, esp. as placed with its diagonals vertical and horizontal; a lozenge or rhombus. |
| 9. | any rhombus-shaped figure or object oriented with its diagonals vertical and horizontal. |
| 10. | a red rhombus-shaped figure on a playing card. |
| 11. | a card of the suit bearing such figures. |
| 12. | diamonds, (used with a singular or plural verb) the suit so marked: Diamonds is trump. Diamonds are trump. |
| 13. | Baseball.
|
| 14. | Printing. a 4 1/2 -point type of a size between brilliant and pearl. |
| 15. | made of or set with a diamond or diamonds. |
| 16. | having the shape of a diamond: a dress with a diamond print. |
| 17. | indicating the 75th, or sometimes the 60th, event of a series, as a wedding anniversary. |
| 18. | to adorn with or as if with diamonds. |
| 19. | diamond in the rough, a person of fine character but lacking refined manners or graces. |
| di·a·mond (dī'ə-mənd, dī'mənd) n.
tr.v. di·a·mond·ed, di·a·mond·ing, di·a·monds To adorn with or as if with diamonds. [Middle English diamaunt, from Old French diamant, from Medieval Latin diamās-, diamant-, alteration of Latin adamās; see adamant.] |
Diamond
| diamond (dī'ə-mənd) Pronunciation Key
A form of pure carbon that occurs naturally as a clear, cubic crystal and is the hardest of all known minerals. It often occurs as octahedrons with rounded edges and curved surfaces. Diamond forms under conditions of extreme temperature and pressure and is most commonly found in volcanic breccias and in alluvial deposits. Poorly formed diamonds are used in abrasives and in industrial cutting tools. |
diamond in the rough
Also, a rough diamond. A person of exceptional character or potential but lacking polish and refinement. For example, Jack is intelligent and trustworthy but lacks manners
he's a diamond in the rough. [Early 1600s]