The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word BRILLIANT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
R
I
L
L
I
A
N
T
More clues leading to the result BRILLIANT
- Brainy chap with temperature, sick internally
- Extremely intelligent — as is a star?
- Sparkling brook Scotsman found in Bute, oddly
- Fantastic fish brought to one worker
- Superb swimmer ain’t swimming
- Extremely clever thing in the ring, perhaps
- Excellent food fish –- a tin unexpectedly produced
- Excellent fish ain’t at sea!
- Splendid fish found by Scot with time
- Inspired Messiah? Not him, sick inside and tense
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Extremely intelligent/as is a star?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case extremely intelligent/as is a star? = brilliant.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BRILLIANT mean?
BRILLIANT noun- A finely cut gemstone, especially a diamond, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to maximize light return through the top (called "table") of the stone.
- The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
- Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.
- A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.
- Shining brightly.
- (of a colour) Both bright and saturated.
- (of a voice or sound) Having a sharp, clear tone
- Of surpassing excellence.
- Magnificent or wonderful.
- Highly intelligent.