n., adj., & v.
--n.
1. a precious stone of pure carbon crystallized in octahedrons etc., the hardest naturally-occurring substance.
2 a figure shaped like the cross-section of a diamond; a rhombus.
3 a a playing-card of a suit denoted by a red rhombus. b (in pl.) this suit.
4 a glittering particle or point (of frost etc.).
5 a tool with a small diamond for glass-cutting.
6 Baseball a the space delimited by the bases. b the entire field.
--adj.
1. made of or set with diamonds or a diamond.
2 rhombus-shaped.
--v.tr. adorn with or as with diamonds.
Phrases and idioms:
diamond cut diamond wit or cunning is met by its like. diamond jubilee the 60th (or 75th) anniversary of an event, esp. a sovereign's accession. diamond wedding a 60th (or 75th) wedding anniversary.
Derivatives:
diamondiferous adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF diamant f. med.L diamas diamant- var. of L adamas ADAMANT f. Gk