luster

¹ American  

[luhs-ter] / ˈlʌs tər /

especially British, lustre

noun

1. the state or quality of shining by reflecting light; glitter, sparkle, sheen, or gloss.

   the luster of satin.

   Antonyms:

   dullness

2. a substance, as a coating or polish, used to impart sheen or gloss.

3. radiant or luminous brightness; brilliance; radiance.

4. radiance of beauty, excellence, merit, distinction, or glory.

   achievements that add luster to one's name.

5. a shining object, especially one used for decoration, as a cut-glass pendant or ornament.

6. a chandelier, candleholder, etc., ornamented with cut-glass pendants.

7. any natural or synthetic fabric with a lustrous finish.

8. Also called metallic luster. an iridescent metallic film produced on the surface of a ceramic glaze.

9. Mineralogy. the nature of a mineral surface with respect to its reflective qualities.

   greasy luster.

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verb (used with object)

1. to finish (fur, cloth, pottery, etc.) with a luster or gloss.

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become lustrous.

luster ² American  

[luhs-ter] / ˈlʌs tər /

noun

1. a person who lusts.

   a luster after power.

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luster ³ American  

[luhs-ter] / ˈlʌs tər /

especially British, lustre

noun

1. lustrum.

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luster Scientific  

/ lŭs′tər /

1. The shine from the surface of a mineral. Luster is important in describing different kinds of minerals. It is usually characterized as metallic, glassy, pearly, or dull.

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Synonym Usage

See polish.

Other Word Forms

• lusterless
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of luster¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French lustre, from Italian lustro, derivative of lustrare “to polish, purify,” from Latin lūstrāre “to purify ceremonially,” derivative of lūstrum lustrum

Origin of luster²

First recorded in 1585–95; lust + -er ¹

Origin of luster³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lustre, from Latin lūstrum lustrum

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Explanation

Something with luster has a certain kind of sheen or shininess, like the way a new pair of shoes looks right before you step into a pile of mud. Luster is a noun that commonly refers to a soft sheen, glossy surface, or brightness. It comes from the Italian word lustro, which means "to make bright." Daniel Defoe, author of the novel Robinson Crusoe, once famously said, “The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

luster

But it was not only a strong season on paper — Ditka is credited with leading the Bears back to relevance and luster after losing records in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Now as more Americans rethink the value of college, the idea of bypassing a degree is gaining luster among a new set of founders, our colleagues Chip Cutter and Allison Pohle report.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

There’s a new hot memory company on the block, and the shares of more established players are losing some luster.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

This newly identified behavior helps explain why gold jewelry, coins, and other objects can retain their luster for centuries.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

His wounds had healed, though his golden skin had lost some of its luster.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

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Related Words

• brightness
• brilliance
• glitter
• glow
• sheen
• shimmer
• sparkle

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