%diam%

a. Pertaining to, or exhibiting the phenomena of, diamagnetism; taking, or being of a nature to take, a position at right angles to the lines of magnetic force. See Paramagnetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diamagnetic attraction. See under Attraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any substance, as bismuth, glass, phosphorous, etc., which in a field of magnetic force is differently affected from the ordinary magnetic bodies, as iron; that is, which tends to take a position at right angles to the lines of magnetic force, and is repelled by either pole of the magnet. Contrasted with paramagnetic and ferromagnetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of, or according to, diamagnetism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The science which treats of diamagnetic phenomena, and of the properties of diamagnetic bodies. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The magnetic action which characterizes diamagnetic substances, the magnetic moments of which tend to oppose an externally applied magnetic field. Contrasted with paramagnetism and ferromagnetism. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ F. diamant diamond + -ferous. ] Yielding diamonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Adamantine. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. diamètre, L. diametros, fr. Gr. &unr_;; dia` through + &unr_; measure. See Meter. ] 1. (Geom.) (a) Any right line passing through the center of a figure or body, as a circle, conic section, sphere, cube, etc., and terminated by the opposite boundaries; a straight line which bisects a system of parallel chords drawn in a curve. (b) A diametral plane. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The length of a straight line through the center of an object from side to side; width; thickness; as, the diameter of a tree or rock. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In an elongated object the diameter is usually taken at right angles to the longer axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) The distance through the lower part of the shaft of a column, used as a standard measure for all parts of the order. See Module. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conjugate diameters. See under Conjugate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. F. diamétral. ] Pertaining to a diameter; diametrical. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diametral curve,
Diametral surface (Geom.), any line or surface which bisects a system of parallel chords drawn in a curve or surface. --
Diametral planes (Crystal.), planes in which two of the axes lie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A diameter. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Diametrically.

{ } a. 1. Of or pertaining to a diameter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. As remote as possible, as if at the opposite end of a diameter; directly adverse. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a diametrical manner; directly; as, diametrically opposite. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose principles were diametrically opposed to his. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. di- + amide. ] (Chem.) Any compound containing two amido groups united with one or more acid or negative radicals, -- as distinguished from a diamine. Cf. Amido acid, under Amido, and Acid amide, under Amide. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) A prefix or combining form of Diamine. [ Also used adjectively. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. di- + amine. ] (Chem.) A compound containing two amido groups united with one or more basic or positive radicals, -- as contrasted with a diamide. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In chemical nomenclature, if any amine or diamine is named by prefixing the nitrogen group, the name of the latter takes the form of amido, diamido, etc., thus ethylene diamine, C2H4.(NH2)2, is also called diamido-ethylene. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. diamaund, diamaunt, F. diamant, corrupted, fr. L. adamas, the hardest iron, steel, diamond, Gr. &unr_;. Perh. the corruption is due to the influence of Gr. &unr_; transparent. See Adamant, Tame. ] 1. A precious stone or gem excelling in brilliancy and beautiful play of prismatic colors, and remarkable for extreme hardness. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The diamond is native carbon in isometric crystals, often octahedrons with rounded edges. It is usually colorless, but some are yellow, green, blue, and even black. It is the hardest substance known. The diamond as found in nature (called a rough diamond) is cut, for use in jewelry, into various forms with many reflecting faces, or facets, by which its brilliancy is much increased. See Brilliant, Rose. Diamonds are said to be of the first water when very transparent, and of the second or third water as the transparency decreases. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A geometrical figure, consisting of four equal straight lines, and having two of the interior angles acute and two obtuse; a rhombus; a lozenge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of a suit of playing cards, stamped with the figure of a diamond. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) A pointed projection, like a four-sided pyramid, used for ornament in lines or groups. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Baseball) The infield; the square space, 90 feet on a side, having the bases at its angles. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Print.) The smallest kind of type in English printing, except that called brilliant, which is seldom seen. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This line is printed in the type called Diamond. [ 1913 Webster ]

Black diamond, coal; (Min.) See Carbonado. --
Bristol diamond. See Bristol stone, under Bristol. --
Diamond beetle (Zool.), a large South American weevil (Entimus imperialis), remarkable for its splendid luster and colors, due to minute brilliant scales. --
Diamond bird (Zool.), a small Australian bird (Pardalotus punctatus, family Ampelidæ.). It is black, with white spots. --
Diamond drill (Engin.), a rod or tube the end of which is set with black diamonds; -- used for perforating hard substances, esp. for boring in rock. --
Diamond finch (Zool.), a small Australian sparrow, often kept in a cage. Its sides are black, with conspicuous white spots, and the rump is bright carmine. --
Diamond groove (Iron Working), a groove of V-section in a roll. --
Diamond mortar (Chem.), a small steel mortar used for pulverizing hard substances. --
Diamond-point tool, a cutting tool whose point is diamond-shaped. --
Diamond snake (Zool.), a harmless snake of Australia (Morelia spilotes); the carpet snake. --
Glazier's diamond, a small diamond set in a glazier's tool, for cutting glass. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling a diamond; made of, or abounding in, diamonds; as, a diamond chain; a diamond field. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The salt-marsh terrapin of the Atlantic coast (Malacoclemmys palustris). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having figures like a diamond or lozenge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Adorned with diamonds; diamondized. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To set with diamonds; to adorn; to enrich. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Diamondizing of your subject. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ etc. } an anniversary celebrated upon the completion of sixty, or, according to some, seventy-five, years from the beginning of the event commemorated. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Shaped like a diamond or rhombus. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Delaware; -- a nickname alluding to its small size. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Pref. di- + amylene. ] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H20, of the ethylene series, regarded as a polymeric form of amylene. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Indiamen A large vessel in the India trade. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Iso- + diametric. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Crystallog.) Developed alike in the directions of the several lateral axes; -- said of crystals of both the tetragonal and hexagonal systems. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having the several diameters nearly equal; -- said of the cells of ordinary parenchyma. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See regent diamond. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A famous diamond of fine quality, which weighs about 137 carats and is among the state jewels of France. It is so called from the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, to whom it was sold in 1717 by Pitt the English Governor of Madras (whence also called the Pitt diamond), who bought it of an Indian merchant in 1701. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]