glare

¹ American  

[glair] / glɛər /

noun

1. a very harsh, bright, dazzling light.

   in the glare of sunlight.

   Synonyms:

   flash, glitter, flare

2. a fiercely or angrily piercing stare.

3. dazzling or showy appearance; showiness.

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verb (used without object)

glared, glaring

1. to shine with or reflect a very harsh, bright, dazzling light.

2. to stare with a fiercely or angrily piercing look.

3. Archaic. to appear conspicuous; stand out obtrusively.

verb (used with object)

glared, glaring

1. to express with a glare.

   They glared their anger at each other.

glare ² American  

[glair] / glɛər /

noun

1. a bright, smooth surface, as of ice.

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glare ¹ British  

/ ɡlɛə /

verb

1. (intr) to stare angrily; glower

2. (tr) to express by glowering

3. (intr) (of light, colour, etc) to be very bright and intense

4. (intr) to be dazzlingly ornamented or garish

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noun

1. an angry stare

2. a dazzling light or brilliance

3. garish ornamentation or appearance; gaudiness

glare ² British  

/ ɡlɛə /

adjective

1. smooth and glassy

   glare ice

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Related Words

See shine ¹. Glare, glower, gloat all have connotations of emotion that accompany an intense gaze. To glare is to look piercingly or angrily: A tiger glares at its prey. To glower is to look fiercely and threateningly, as from wrath; it suggests a scowl along with a glare: to glower at a mischievous child. To gloat meant originally to look with exultation, avaricious or malignant, on something or someone: a tyrant gloating over the helplessness of his victim. Today, however, it may simply imply inner exultation.

Other Word Forms

• glareless adjective
• glary adjective

Etymology

Origin of glare¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English glaren; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German glaren; akin to glass (compare Old English glæren “glassy”); noun derivative of the verb

Origin of glare²

First recorded in 1560–70; special use of glare ¹

Example Sentences

“Maybe if it’s an actual date,” she explains as to why the intimacy of her show spotlights the real Amelia less than the glare of the awards-season spotlight.

From Los Angeles Times

Nor does any glaring evidence point to the theorized blackmail of his rich alleged co-conspirators and clients.

From The Wall Street Journal

I slouch down in my seat as she glares at the phone in my hand.

From Literature

She glared at them all, as though daring someone to oppose her.

From Literature

The prince of the Red Woods glared at his friend and said, “I AM NOT A BUNNY!”

From Literature

Related Words

• frown
• gape
• gawk
• glower
• scowl
• stare