Words / B2

DEYE-uh-m-uh-nd/ˈdaɪəmənd/

A diamond is a very hard precious stone made of carbon; also a shape with four equal sides: a diamond ring; diamond on the Mohs scale. Graphite is the same element, different structure; rhombus is the maths twin for the shape. A diamond in the geology case is carbon under pressure, not a slogan. Mix-up: diamond vs Damon; dimond (misspelling); do not write diamond for a jewellery advert with no Mohs rank or carbon in the source.

Meaning

A very hard precious stone made of carbon; also a shape with four equal sides.

Examples

• “A diamond in the geology case is carbon under pressure, not a slogan; still name the Mohs rank if asked.”
• “A diamond on the flag featured in the design brief, which is the four-sided-shape sense — still name the angles if the maths paper asks.”

Good to know

a diamond; diamond (Mohs 10); a diamond shape / rhombus. Same element: graphite. Trap: dimond. Geology, chemistry, and maths. A hard carbon gem, or a four-sided shape — specify.

Near in meaning

gem, rhombus, graphite

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