adj.
- (of light or colour) very bright or vivid.
- exceptionally clever or talented.
- Brit. informal excellent; marvellous.
n.
a diamond of brilliant cut.
Derivative
- brilliance
(also brilliancy)
n.
- brilliantly adv.
Etymology
C17: from Fr. brillant, from briller ‘shine’, prob. ult. from L. beryllus (see beryl).