diamond
a transparent, extremely hard precious stone that is used in jewellery , and in industry for cutting hard things
a diamond ring/necklace
Oxford Essential Dictionary
diamond
noun
1 a hard stone that looks like clear glass and is very expensive:
The ring has a large diamond in it.
a diamond necklace
2 the shape below
3 diamonds (plural) the group of playing cards (called a suit) that have red (shape below) shapes on them:
the eight of diamonds
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
diamond
di‧a‧mond S3 /ˈdaɪəmənd/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: diamant 'hard metal, diamond', from Greek adamas; ⇨ ↑adamant]
1. [uncountable and countable] a clear, very hard valuable stone, used in jewellery and in industry:
a diamond engagement ring
2. [countable] 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.
3.
a) diamonds 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] a card from this suit:
You have to play a diamond.
4. [countable]
a) the area in a baseball field that is within the diamond shape formed by the four ↑bases
b) the whole playing field used in baseball
• • •
THESAURUS
■ places where people do sport
▪ field (also pitch British English) a large area of ground, usually covered with grass, where team sports are played: A few kids were playing on the football field. | a hockey field
▪ stadium a large sports field with seats all around it for people to watch team sports or track and field competitions: The atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium was amazing. | a football stadium
▪ ground British English a sports field and the seats and buildings around it, belonging to a particular football, rugby, or cricket team: I met my friends inside the ground.
▪ ballpark/park American English a stadium where baseball is played: Busch Stadium is one of the newest ballparks in Major League.
▪ court an area with lines painted on the ground, for tennis, badminton, basketball, or volleyball: The hotel has four tennis courts and a volleyball court.
▪ diamond the area in a baseball field that is within the shape formed by the four bases. The diamond can also be the whole field: The pitcher stands in the middle of the diamond. | There’s a playground, a picnic area, and a baseball diamond.
▪ track a circular path with lines on it, for running on: In the relay, each runner runs once around the track.
▪ gym a room with machines which you can use to do exercises: He spends an hour in the gym every day.
▪ pool/swimming pool a place where you can swim: He jumped into the deep end of the pool. | I’ll meet you outside the swimming pool.
▪ sports centre British English, sports center American English a building where you can play many types of indoor sports: Why not do exercise classes at your local sports centre?
▪ health club a small sports centre, where you pay to be a member: How much does it cost to join a health club?
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
diamond
dia·mond [diamond diamonds] [ˈdaɪəmənd] [ˈdaɪəmənd] noun
1. uncountable, countable a clear precious stone of pure carbon, the hardest substance known. Diamonds are used in jewellery and also in industry, especially for cutting glass
• a ring with a diamond in it
• a diamond ring/necklace
• She was wearing her diamonds (= jewellery with diamonds in it).
• The lights shone like diamonds.
see also rough diamond
2. countable a shape with four straight sides of equal length and with angles that are not right angles
3. diamonds plural, uncountable one of the four suits (= sets) in a pack of cards. The cards are marked with red diamond shapes
• the ten of diamonds
• Diamonds are/is trumps.
4. countable a card of this suit
• You must play a diamond if you have one.
5. countable (in baseball) the space inside the lines that connect the four bases; also used to mean the whole baseball field
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French diamant, from medieval Latin diamas, diamant-, variant of Latin adamans from Greek adamas, adamant-, ‘untameable, invincible’ (later used to denote the hardest metal or stone, hence diamond), from a- ‘not’ + daman ‘to tame’.
Example Bank:
• an old woman dripping with diamonds
• earrings encrusted with diamonds
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
diamond / ˈdaɪə.mənd / noun (STONE)
B2 [ C or U ] a transparent, extremely hard precious stone that is used in jewellery , and in industry for cutting hard things:
The tiara was set with diamonds and rubies.
a diamond ring/necklace
He had worked in the diamond mines of South Africa.
diamond-tipped saw blades
See picture diamond
diamonds [ plural noun ] jewellery made from diamonds:
Shall I wear the diamonds or the pearls with this dress?
diamond / ˈdaɪə.mənd / noun (SHAPE)
B2 [ C or U ] a shape with four straight sides of equal length, forming two opposite angles that are wide and two that are narrow:
Joe's socks had diamond patterns on them.
See picture diamond
[ C ] the square part of a field on which baseball is played, surrounded by the four bases, or the whole field on which the game is played
See picture diamond
diamond / ˈdaɪə.mənd / noun (CARDS)
diamonds [ plural or U ] one of the four suits in playing cards, shown by one or more red symbols in the shape of a diamond:
the six/jack of diamonds
[ C ] a playing card from the suit of diamonds:
She played a diamond.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
diamond
[da͟ɪ͟əmənd]
diamonds
1) N-VAR A diamond is a hard, bright, precious stone which is clear and colourless. Diamonds are used in jewellery and for cutting very hard substances.
...a pair of diamond earrings.
...a sphere made of diamond without impurity or flaw.
2) N-PLURAL Diamonds are jewellery such as necklaces and rings which have diamonds set into them.
Nicole loves wearing her diamonds, even with jeans and a white T-shirt.
3) N-COUNT A diamond is a shape with four straight sides of equal length where the opposite angles are the same, but none of the angles is equal to 90°.
...forming his hands into the shape of a diamond.
4) N-UNCOUNT-COLL Diamonds is one of the four suits of cards in a pack of playing cards. Each card in the suit is marked with one or more red symbols in the shape of a diamond.
He drew the seven of diamonds.
N-COUNT
A diamond is a playing card of this suit.
5) N-COUNT In baseball, the diamond is the diamond-shaped area of the playing field between the four bases.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1di·a·mond /ˈdaɪmənd/ noun, pl -monds
1 : a very hard usually colorless stone that is a form of carbon and is used especially in jewelry
[count]
• a necklace studded with diamonds and rubies
• Her husband gave her a diamond [=a diamond ring] for her birthday.
[noncount]
• The ruby was surrounded by a ring of diamond.
- often used before another noun
• a diamond mine/ring
- see color picture
2 [count] : a shape that is formed by four equal straight lines and that has two opposite angles that are smaller than a right angle and two opposite angles that are larger than a right angle
• The children cut the fabric into diamonds.
- compare square
3 a [count] : a playing card that is marked with a red diamond shape
• one heart, two diamonds, and two clubs
- see picture at playing card
b diamonds [plural] : the suit in a deck of playing cards that is marked by red diamond shapes
• He played the queen of diamonds.
- compare club, heart, spade
4 [count]
a : the part of a baseball field that includes the area within and around the three bases and home plate : infield
• The infielders warmed up by throwing the ball around the diamond.
b : the entire playing field in baseball
• It's sad to see the town's old baseball diamond deserted.
