ballas
/ˈbaləs/noun
A tough aggregate of minute, concentrically arranged diamond crystals, occurring naturally in rounded masses especially in Brazil and South Africa, and mined or produced synthetically for industrial purposes.
Origin
1930s; earliest use found in Science. From Portuguese balas, ballas, specifically use (although the form with medial -ll- is unexplained) of the plural of bala ball, bullet, with reference to the round shape of the crystal aggregate.
- timecard
- time catch
- time-charter
- time check
- time clause
- time clock
- time code
- time-coded
- time constant
- time-consuming
- time course
- time-critical
- time curve
- time delay
- time deposit
- time-depth
- time derivative
- time detector
- time difference
- time differential
- time dilatation
- time dilation
- time disc
- time disk
- time displacement