noun
facet
FAS-iht
noun
1
One of the flat, polished surfaces cut into a gemstone.
"The diamond had over fifty facets, each catching the light."
2
One aspect or part of something that has many sides or dimensions.
"Money is only one facet of a happy retirement."
"The report examines every facet of the crisis."
How to Use Facet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne cut surface of a gem, or figuratively, one part or angle of a larger, complex thing.
Common pairings
every facet of
a facet of life
cut facets
Word Forms
faceted past tense, facetted past tense, facets plural, facets singular
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The diamond had over fifty _____, each catching the light.
Etymology
From French facette, a diminutive of face, "face" — literally "little face."