BRILLIANT


Meaning of BRILLIANT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ brɪliənt ]

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.

1.

A brilliant person, idea, or performance is extremely clever or skilful.

She had a brilliant mind...

It was his brilliant performance in ‘My Left Foot’ that established his reputation.

ADJ : usu ADJ n

• bril‧liant‧ly

It is a very high quality production, brilliantly written and acted.

ADV : usu ADV with v , also ADV adj

• bril‧liance

He was a deeply serious musician who had shown his brilliance very early.

N-UNCOUNT : oft with poss

2.

You can say that something is brilliant when you are very pleased about it or think that it is very good. ( mainly BRIT INFORMAL, SPOKEN )

If you get a chance to see the show, do go–it’s brilliant...

My sister’s given me this brilliant book.

= great

≠ awful

ADJ

• bril‧liant‧ly

It’s extremely hard working together but on the whole it works brilliantly and we’re still good friends.

ADV : ADV with v , ADV adj / adv

3.

A brilliant career or success is very successful.

He served four years in prison, emerging to find his brilliant career in ruins...

The raid was a brilliant success.

ADJ : usu ADJ n

• bril‧liant‧ly

The strategy worked brilliantly.

ADV

4.

A brilliant colour is extremely bright.

...a brilliant white open-necked shirt.

ADJ : ADJ n

• bril‧liant‧ly

Many of the patterns show brilliantly coloured flowers.

ADV : ADV adj / -ed

• bril‧liance

...an iridescent blue butterfly in all its brilliance.

N-UNCOUNT

5.

You describe light, or something that reflects light, as brilliant when it shines very brightly.

The event was held in brilliant sunshine...

ADJ

• bril‧liant‧ly

It’s a brilliantly sunny morning.

ADV : ADV adj / -ed , ADV after v

• bril‧liance

His eyes became accustomed to the dark after the brilliance of the sun outside.

N-UNCOUNT

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.