Collins English-English Dictionary

diamond ['daɪəmənd]

1. 1. n a colourless exceptionally hard mineral (but often tinted yellow, orange, blue, brown, or black by impurities), found in certain igneous rocks (esp the kimberlites of South Africa). It is used as a gemstone, as an abrasive, and on the working edges of cutting tools. Composition: carbon. Formula: C. Crystal structure: cubic

2. 2. n (as modifier)

   a diamond ring

3. 3. n [geometry] a figure having four sides of equal length forming two acute angles and two obtuse angles; rhombus

4. 4. n [modifier] rhombic

5. 5. n a red lozenge-shaped symbol on a playing card

6. 6. n a card with one or more of these symbols or (when plural) the suit of cards so marked

7. 7. n [baseball] the whole playing field

8. 8. n the square formed by the four bases

9. 9. n (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 41/2 point

10. 10. n a figurative name for coal

11. 11. vt. [tr] to decorate with or as with diamonds

12. 12. vt. [Etymology] C13: from Old French diamant, from Medieval Latin diamas, modification of Latin adamas the hardest iron or steel, diamond; see adamant