brilliant: Meaning and Definition of

bril•liant

Pronunciation: (bril'yunt), [key]
— adj.
  1. shining brightly; sparkling; glittering; lustrous: the brilliant lights of the city.
  2. distinguished; illustrious: a brilliant performance by a young pianist.
  3. having or showing great intelligence, talent, quality, etc.: a brilliant technician.
  4. strong and clear in tone; vivid; bright: brilliant blues and greens; the brilliant sound of the trumpets.
  5. splendid or magnificent: a brilliant social event.
—n.
  1. a gem, esp. a diamond, having any of several varieties of the brilliant cut.
  2. a size of type about 3-point.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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