lustre
Americannoun
noun
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reflected light; sheen; gloss
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radiance or brilliance of light
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great splendour of accomplishment, beauty, etc
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a substance used to polish or put a gloss on a surface
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a vase or chandelier from which hang cut-glass drops
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a drop-shaped piece of cut glass or crystal used as a decoration on a chandelier, vase, etc
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a shiny metallic surface on some pottery and porcelain
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( as modifier )
lustre decoration
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mineralogy the way in which light is reflected from the surface of a mineral. It is one of the properties by which minerals are defined
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lustre
C16: from Old French, from Old Italian lustro, from Latin lustrāre to make bright; related to lustrum
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Created by the British company Core Design, the "Tomb Raider" series lost its lustre as the quality of new editions declined over time.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
He argued that rival destinations were gaining ground while Vienna, increasingly expensive compared to other central European capitals, "is losing its lustre".
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
It was the car to be seen in and gave the Jaguar badge a lustre that lasted for decades.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2024
"WTI has been the belle of the ball, but today it's losing its lustre," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York, citing profit taking and economic concerns.
From Reuters ● Sep. 29, 2023
His countenance reminded one of a lamp quenched, waiting to be re-lit—and alas! it was not himself that could now kindle the lustre of animated expression: he was dependent on another for that office!
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Left: Polychrome Decoration, Right: Lustred Decoration The earliest lustred ware of Persia is that found in the ruins of the ancient city of Rhages.
From Handbook of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts by Joseph Breck
Here in the twelfth century the Moors were producing their famous Hispano-Mooresque lustred wares.
From Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by George J. Cox
The lustred wares of Spain declined late in the thirteenth century, but not before8 its exportation to Italy by way of Majorca had stimulated the production of Italian Majolica.
From Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by George J. Cox
Lustred Wares.—The lustred wares of Deruta have marked characteristics, and, though differing in actual treatment from the Hispano-Moresque, their appearance is eloquent in favour of such a derivation.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various
Sometimes the backs of these dishes are as beautifully lustred as the fronts.
From Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by George J. Cox
He blushed with delight when he fancied he saw himself in the middle of a large office, with lustring elbow sleeves, and a pen behind his ear.
From Theresa Raquin by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly
One lustring hood was brown; and frequently green ribbons were sent; also many yards of scarlet and pink gauze, which seem the very essence of juvenility.
From Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820) by Alice Morse Earle
John Hall's "lustre for whisks" was of course lustring, or lutestring, a soft half-lustred pure silk fabric which was worn constantly for two centuries.
From Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820) by Alice Morse Earle
Once on a day let my beloved write my name, And pour the lustring water with his rosy hands!
From Vidy?pati: Bang?ya pad?bali; songs of the love of R?dh? and Krishna by Vidy?pati Th?kura
The material called lutestring was formerly lustring, Fr. lustrine, from its glossiness.
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Ernest Weekley
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