diamond

[dahy-muh nd, dahy-uh-] /ˈdaɪ mənd, ˈdaɪ ə-/
noun
1.
a pure or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon, naturally crystallized in the isometric system.
2.
a piece of this stone.
3.
a transparent, flawless or almost flawless piece of this stone, especially when cut and polished, valued as a precious gem.
4.
a ring or other piece of jewelry containing such a precious stone, especially an engagement ring.
5.
a piece of this stone used in a drill or cutting tool.
6.
a tool provided with such an uncut stone, used for cutting glass.
7.
crystallized carbon, or a piece of it, artificially produced.
8.
an equilateral quadrilateral, especially as placed with its diagonals vertical and horizontal; a lozenge or rhombus.
9.
any rhombus-shaped figure or object oriented with its diagonals vertical and horizontal.
10.
a red rhombus-shaped figure on a playing card.
11.
a card of the suit bearing such figures.
12.
diamonds, (used with a singular or plural verb) the suit so marked:
Diamonds is trump. Diamonds are trump.
13.
Baseball.
  1. the space enclosed by home plate and the three bases; infield.
  2. the entire playing field.
14.
Printing. a 4½-point type of a size between brilliant and pearl.
adjective
15.
made of or set with a diamond or diamonds.
16.
having the shape of a diamond:
a dress with a diamond print.
17.
indicating the 75th, or sometimes the 60th, event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.
verb (used with object)
18.
to adorn with or as if with diamonds.
Idioms
19.
diamond in the rough, a person of fine character but lacking refined manners or graces.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English diamant < Old French < Vulgar Latin *diamant-, stem of *diamas, perhaps alteration of *adimas (> French aimant magnet, Old Provençal aziman diamond, magnet), for Latin adamas adamant, diamond
Related forms
diamondlike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for diamond in the rough

diamond

/ˈdaɪəmənd/
noun
1.
  1. 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. (as modifier): a diamond ring, related adjective diamantine
2.
(geometry)
  1. a figure having four sides of equal length forming two acute angles and two obtuse angles; rhombus
  2. (modifier) rhombic
3.
  1. a red lozenge-shaped symbol on a playing card
  2. a card with one or more of these symbols or (when plural) the suit of cards so marked
4.
(baseball)
  1. the whole playing field
  2. the square formed by the four bases
5.
(formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 41/2 point
6.
black diamond, a figurative name for coal
7.
rough diamond
  1. an unpolished diamond
  2. a person of fine character who lacks refinement and polish
verb
8.
(transitive) to decorate with or as with diamonds
Derived Forms
diamond-like, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old French diamant, from Medieval Latin diamas, modification of Latin adamas the hardest iron or steel, diamond; see adamant
Word Origin and History for diamond in the rough

diamond

n.

early 14c., from Old French diamant, from Medieval Latin diamantem (nominative diamas), from Vulgar Latin *adiamantem (altered by influence of the many Greek words in dia-), from Latin adamantem (nominative adamans) "the hardest metal," later, "diamond" (see adamant). Playing card suit is from 1590s; Sense in baseball is American English, 1875.

diamond in the rough in Science
diamond
  (dī'ə-mənd)   
A form of pure carbon that occurs naturally as a clear, cubic crystal and is the hardest of all known minerals. It often occurs as octahedrons with rounded edges and curved surfaces. Diamond forms under conditions of extreme temperature and pressure and is most commonly found in volcanic breccias and in alluvial deposits. Poorly formed diamonds are used in abrasives and in industrial cutting tools.
diamond in the rough in Culture

diamond in the rough definition


Someone or something with potential or talent but lacking training or polish: “Her singing voice is beautiful, but she needs help with her gestures; she's a diamond in the rough.” This phrase refers to the fact that diamonds found in nature are rough and uneven. They must be cut and polished to bring out their true beauty.

Slang definitions & phrases for diamond in the rough

diamond in the rough

noun phrase

A person of exceptional qualities or potential but lacking refinement or polish; a wonderful and surprising specimen: looked like a nerd, but rather was a diamond in the rough


diamond in the rough in the Bible

(1.) A precious gem (Heb. yahalom', in allusion to its hardness), otherwise unknown, the sixth, i.e., the third in the second row, in the breastplate of the high priest, with the name of Naphtali engraven on it (Ex. 28:18; 39:11; R.V. marg., "sardonyx.") (2.) A precious stone (Heb. shamir', a sharp point) mentioned in Jer. 17:1. From its hardness it was used for cutting and perforating other minerals. It is rendered "adamant" (q.v.) in Ezek. 3:9, Zech. 7:12. It is the hardest and most valuable of precious stones.

Idioms and Phrases with diamond in the rough

diamond in the rough

Also, a rough diamond. A person of exceptional character or potential but lacking polish and refinement. For example, Jack is intelligent and trustworthy but lacks manners—he's a diamond in the rough. [ Early 1600s ]