scintillate

[ sin-tl-eyt ]
See synonyms for: scintillatescintillating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.
  1. to emit sparks.

  2. to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brilliance.

  1. to twinkle, as the stars.

  2. Electronics. (of a spot of light or image on a radar display) to shift rapidly around a mean position.

  3. Physics.

    • (of the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an electromagnetic wave) to fluctuate in a random manner.

    • (of an energetic photon or particle) to produce a flash of light in a phosphor by striking it.

verb (used with object),scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.
  1. to emit as sparks; flash forth.

Origin of scintillate

1
First recorded in 1615–25, scintillate is from the Latin word scintillātus (past participle of scintillāre to send out sparks, flash). See scintilla, -ate1

Words Nearby scintillate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scintillate in a sentence

  • scintillate, scintillate, globule orific, Fain would I fathom thy nature's specific.

  • She had promised to do this, and was only too happy to see a spark of light scintillate into life in the immeasurable darkness.

  • All the light in the room seemed to focus upon her, so did she scintillate from head to foot with spangles.

    A Soldier of the Legion | C. N. Williamson
  • The large lancets which light the aisles scintillate as with precious jewels.

    How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
  • The person who has imagination can cause the facts of the multiplication table to scintillate and glow.

    The Reconstructed School | Francis B. Pearson

British Dictionary definitions for scintillate

scintillate

/ (ˈsɪntɪˌleɪt) /


verb(mainly intr)
  1. (also tr) to give off (sparks); sparkle; twinkle

  2. to be animated or brilliant

  1. physics to give off flashes of light as a result of the impact of particles or photons

Origin of scintillate

1
C17: from Latin scintillāre, from scintilla a spark

Derived forms of scintillate

  • scintillant, adjective
  • scintillantly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012