diamond
DEYE-uh-muhnd
Diamond (noun) means an extremely hard, clear crystal form of carbon, prized as a gemstone. Example: “She was proposed to with a ring set with a single diamond.”
noun
1
An extremely hard, clear crystal form of carbon, prized as a gemstone.
"She was proposed to with a ring set with a single diamond."
"Diamonds are cut and polished to maximize their sparkle."
"The jeweller held the diamond up to the light to check for flaws."
2
A four-sided shape with two pairs of equal angles, standing on one of its points (a rhombus).
"He drew a kite in the shape of a diamond."
"The tiles on the kitchen floor were laid in a repeating diamond pattern."
"The children cut a red diamond from card to decorate the tree."
3
One of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards, marked with a red diamond shape.
"She played the queen of diamonds."
"He held the ace of diamonds and smiled quietly at his opponents."
"Hearts and diamonds are red, while clubs and spades are black."
4
The infield of a baseball field, which is diamond-shaped.
"The players took the diamond as the national anthem finished."
"Groundskeepers raked the dirt on the diamond before the evening game began."
"The pitcher walked slowly across the diamond toward the mound."
adj
1
Marking a sixtieth (or, in some uses, seventy-fifth) wedding anniversary.
"They celebrated their diamond anniversary surrounded by family."
"Our grandparents hosted a diamond wedding party in the village hall."
"The card congratulated them on reaching their diamond jubilee together."
How to use diamond
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hard, sparkling gemstone; also the four-sided card suit and rhombus shape named after it.
Common pairings
diamond ring
diamond anniversary
baseball diamond
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Word forms
- Plural
- diamonds
- Third person singular
- diamonds
- Past tense
- diamonded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was proposed to with a ring set with a single _____.
Etymology
From Old French diamant, from Latin adamas ("hardest metal"), from Greek adamas — the same root as "adamant." Diamond and adamant are doublets.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “diamond” mean?
The word “diamond” means an extremely hard, clear crystal form of carbon, prized as a gemstone. In plain terms, a hard, sparkling gemstone; also the four-sided card suit and rhombus shape named after it.
How do you pronounce “diamond”?
“Diamond” is pronounced DEYE-uh-muhnd (/ˈdaɪ.ə.mənd/ in IPA).
How do you use “diamond” in a sentence?
Here is “diamond” used in a sentence: “She was proposed to with a ring set with a single diamond.”
What part of speech is “diamond”?
Depending on how it is used, “diamond” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “diamond” come from?
The word “diamond” comes from Latin. From Old French diamant, from Latin adamas ("hardest metal"), from Greek adamas — the same root as "adamant." Diamond and adamant are doublets.
Is “diamond” a common word?
“Diamond” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “diamond” have?
“Diamond” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an extremely hard, clear crystal form of carbon, prized as a gemstone.
What is the difference between a diamond and cubic zirconia?
A diamond is a natural crystal of pure carbon and the hardest known natural material. Cubic zirconia is a man-made stone that imitates a diamond's appearance but is softer, cheaper, and throws off more rainbow-colored flashes. A jeweler can tell the two apart quite easily.
What is the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond?
Chemically and physically they are the same — both are real diamonds made of crystallized carbon with identical hardness and sparkle. The only difference is origin: a natural diamond forms in the earth over millions of years, while a lab-grown one is created in weeks, usually at a lower price.
Why are diamonds so hard?
Each carbon atom bonds tightly to four neighbors in a rigid three-dimensional lattice, making the whole crystal extremely strong and difficult to scratch. This structure places diamond at the very top of the Mohs hardness scale, so in practice only another diamond can easily scratch it.
What are the 4 Cs of a diamond?
Cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Cut governs how much a stone sparkles, color grades how colorless it is, clarity measures internal flaws, and carat is the weight. Together the four Cs determine a diamond's overall quality and, in turn, its price.
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