diamond

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a playing card in the minor suit that has one or more red rhombuses on it

   I led with a small diamond.

2. 2
   noun

   A glimmering glass-like mineral that is an allotrope of carbon in which each atom is surrounded by four others in the form of a tetrahedron.

   The saw is coated with diamond.

3. 3
   noun

   A gemstone made from this mineral.

   The dozen loose diamonds sparkled in the light.

4. 4
   noun

   A diamond ring.

   What a beautiful engagement diamond.

5. 5
   noun

   Sable, when blazoning by precious stones.

   Elphingston. Pearl a Chevron Diamond between three Boars Heads Eraz'd Ruby, arm'd of the first. / Eymouth. Diamond a Lyon Rampant Pearl, on a Canton of the 2d, a Cross Ruby.

6. 6
   noun

   A rhombus, especially when oriented so that its longer axis is vertical.

   An adder writhes out of the bush, I can see the diamonds on its back; it shrithes across the sandy soil, and bites the right foot of one of the knights.

7. 7
   noun

   The infield of a baseball field.

   The teams met on the diamond.

8. 8
   noun

   A card of the diamonds suit.

   I have only one diamond in my hand.

Etymology

From Middle English dyamaunt, from Old French diamant, from Late Latin diamās, from Latin adamās, from Ancient Greek ἀδάμᾱς (adámās, “diamond”). Doublet of adamant. The printing sense is a calque of Dutch diamant, used by Dirck Voskens who first cut it around 1700; compare pearl, ruby (“size of type between pearl and nonpareil”).