gleam
[ gleem ]
/ glim /
noun
a flash or beam of light: the gleam of a lantern in the dark.
a dim or subdued light.
a brief or slight manifestation or occurrence; trace: a gleam of hope.
verb (used without object)
to send forth a gleam or gleams.
to appear suddenly and clearly like a flash of light.
Origin of gleam
SYNONYMS FOR gleam
1 Gleam, glimmer, beam, ray are terms for a stream of light. Gleam denotes a not very brilliant, intermittent or nondirectional stream of light. Glimmer indicates a nondirectional light that is feeble and unsteady: a faint glimmer of moonlight. Beam usually means a directional, and therefore smaller, stream: the beam from a searchlight. Ray usually implies a still smaller amount of light than a beam, a single line of light: a ray through a pinprick in a window shade.
4 shine, glimmer, flash, glitter, sparkle, beam.
Related forms
gleam·ing·ly, adverbgleam·less, adjectiveout·gleam, verb (used with object)un·gleam·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for gleam
British Dictionary definitions for gleam
gleam
/ (ɡliːm) /
noun
a small beam or glow of light, esp reflected light
a brief or dim indicationa gleam of hope
verb (intr)
to send forth or reflect a beam of light
to appear, esp brieflyintelligence gleamed in his eyes
Derived Forms
gleaming, adjectivegleamy, adjectivegleamingly, adverbWord Origin for gleam
Old English glǣm; related to Old Norse gljā to flicker, Old High German gleimo glow-worm, glīmo brightness, Old Irish glē bright
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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