diamond point: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Specialist; Figurative (in specific contexts)
Quick answer
What does “diamond point” mean?
A point or tip made of diamond (or a very hard material), used for cutting, engraving, or as a tool component.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A point or tip made of diamond (or a very hard material), used for cutting, engraving, or as a tool component.
In baseball, a pitch that moves sharply and is difficult to hit; figuratively, anything of exceptional sharpness, precision, or value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The baseball sense is almost exclusively American. The tool/technical sense is used in both varieties, though specific applications (e.g., in specific crafts) may have regional naming preferences.
Connotations
Precision, durability, high quality, sharpness. In baseball (US), it connotes a tricky, effective pitch.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation. Most frequent in technical/manufacturing contexts and American sports commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “diamond point” in a Sentence
[tool/implement] with a diamond point[verb: use, sharpen, employ] a diamond pointa diamond point for [purpose: engraving, cutting]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “diamond point” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The artisan will diamond-point the design onto the crystal vase.
American English
- We need to diamond-point this surface before the final polish.
adjective
British English
- He used a diamond-point engraver for the delicate work.
American English
- The diamond-point needle ensures superior record playback.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Marketing high-precision tools or luxury items ('featuring a diamond point for flawless etching').
Academic
In materials science or engineering papers discussing hardness and wear of cutting implements.
Everyday
Very rare; might be used when discussing specialised hobbies like glass engraving.
Technical
Standard term in machining, engraving, precision instrumentation, and phonograph/record player needle manufacturing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “diamond point”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “diamond point”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “diamond point”
- Using 'diamond point' to refer to the pointed shape of a gemstone itself (that's a 'diamond's point' or 'the point of the diamond').
- Misspelling as 'daimond point'.
- Overusing the term in non-technical contexts where 'sharp point' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, historically it was, but modern 'diamond points' are often made of synthetic diamond or other ultra-hard materials like tungsten carbide, but they retain the name for their function.
It's a colloquial term in American baseball for a type of pitch, typically a fastball or breaking ball, that seems to 'dive' or move sharply as it reaches the plate, making it extremely hard for the batter to hit.
Yes, in technical/industrial contexts, 'to diamond-point' can mean to engrave, cut, or dress a surface using a diamond-pointed tool.
They are often synonymous. 'Point' may emphasise a sharper, more tapered end (like a needle), while 'tip' is more general for the working end of a tool. Usage overlaps significantly.
A point or tip made of diamond (or a very hard material), used for cutting, engraving, or as a tool component.
Diamond point is usually technical/specialist; figurative (in specific contexts) in register.
Diamond point: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪ.mənd pɔɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪ.(ə)mənd pɔɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not common as a fixed idiom; occasional figurative use like] 'an argument with a diamond point'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a diamond, the hardest natural material, shaped to a perfect, sharp POINT for cutting glass. Diamond = hardest, Point = sharp end.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION/QUALITY IS HARDNESS (A diamond point represents the pinnacle of sharpness and durability in a tool).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'diamond point' MOST likely to be used?