Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: diamant 'hard metal, diamond', from Greek adamas; ADAMANT


1 [uncountable and countable]DCJ a clear, very hard valuable stone, used in jewellery and in industry:
a diamond engagement ring
2 [countable]CF a shape with four straight but sloping sides of equal length, with one point facing directly up and the other directly down:
Cut the cookie dough into diamonds.
a) DGC


one of the four suits (=types of cards) in a set of playing cards, which has the design of a red diamond shape on it
two/queen etc of diamonds
the ace of diamonds
b) [countable]DGC a card from this suit:
You have to play a diamond.
4 [countable]
a) DSB the area in a baseball field that is within the diamond shape formed by the four bases
b) DSB the whole playing field used in baseball

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