diamond

diamond [dī′mənd, dī′ə mənd]

n.

[ME diamaunt < OFr diamant < ML diamas (gen. diamantis), for L adamas < Gr, ADAMANT, diamond]

1. a usually colorless, crystalline mineral consisting of pure carbon, with nearly perfect cleavage and the greatest hardness of any substance: unflawed, transparent stones are cut into gems of great brilliance, and less perfect forms are used for cutting tools, abrasives, etc.

2. a gem or other piece cut from this mineral

3.

a) a lozenge-shaped plane figure (♦)

b) any of a suit of playing cards marked with such figures in red

c) [pl., with sing. or pl. v.] this suit of cards

☆ 4. Baseball

a) the infield

b) the whole playing field

adj.

1. of, like, or set with a diamond or diamonds

2. marking or celebrating the 60th, or sometimes 75th, year [a diamond jubilee]

vt.

to adorn with or as with diamonds

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diamond in the rough

1. a diamond in its natural state

2. a person or thing of fine quality but lacking polish