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. 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. diamondiferous adj.
[ ME f. OF diamant f. med.L diamas diamant- var. of L adamas ADAMANT f. Gk ]