diamond

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English diamaunde, from Middle French diamand, from Late Latin diamant-, diamas, alteration of Latin adamant-, adamas hardest metal, diamond, from Greek Date: 14th century 1. a. native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known mineral, that is usually nearly colorless, that when transparent and free from flaws is highly valued as a precious stone, and that is used industrially especially as an abrasive; also a piece of this substance b. crystallized carbon produced artificially 2. something that resembles a diamond (as in brilliance, value, or fine quality) 3. a square or rhombus-shaped figure usually oriented with the long diagonal vertical 4. a. a playing card marked with a stylized figure of a red diamond b. plural but singular or plural in construction the suit comprising cards marked with diamonds 5. a baseball infield; also the entire playing field II. transitive verb Date: 1751 to adorn with or as if with diamonds III. adjective Date: 1872 of, relating to, or being a 60th or 75th anniversary or its celebration <

diamond jubilee

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