glitter

[glit-er]

See more synonyms for glitter on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to reflect light with a brilliant, sparkling luster; sparkle with reflected light.
to make a brilliant show.

noun

a sparkling reflected light or luster.
showy splendor.
small glittering ornaments.

Origin of glitter

1300–50; Middle English < Old Norse glitra; compare Old English glitenian, German gleissen to shine, glitter

Related formsglit·ter·ing·ly, adverbout·glit·ter, verb (used with object)un·glit·ter·ing, adjective

Synonyms for glitter

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1. See flash. 3. sparkle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for glitter

glamour, glitz, sheen, luster, shine, glisten, twinkle, gleam, shimmer, glimmer, glint, scintillate, glow, radiance, glare, show, zap, flash, glister, beam

Examples from the Web for glitter

Contemporary Examples of glitter

Neil Patrick Harris, Hedwig and the Angry Inch Neil Patrick Harris in fishnets, high heels, and glitter could be a great gag.
Hedwig, Hugh & Michael Cera: 12 Powerhouse Theater Performances of 2014
Janice Kaplan
December 31, 2014
I sew, glue, glitter, cut, and tie numerous things onto my products to make the final creation.
Etsy Changed Its Policy. So What?
Sara Stroman
November 8, 2013
Beyoncé Covers Flaunt Magazine In Only Glitter: If you like it, then you should put some glitter on it.
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists Announced; Beyoncé Wears Nothing But Glitter
The Fashion Beast Team
July 11, 2013
You knew this would be razzle-dazzle, filled with glitter and popping bottles and Jay-Z.
‘The Great Gatsby’ Debate: Is Baz Luhrmann’s Film Genius or Rubbish?
Marlow Stern, Isabel Wilkinson
May 11, 2013
And paint the whole head rosy, and put the glitter in his eyes.
Richard Ben Cramer Dies: Iconic Writer Had an Unerring Ear for Dialogue
John Avlon
January 8, 2013

Historical Examples of glitter

There are many things that glitter as well as gold and which can be had more cheaply.
The Call of the Twentieth Century
David Starr Jordan
Dick saw the glitter of his colonel's eye and the sharp compression of his lips.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
His success, whatever he does, is all glitter—evanescent glitter.
The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893
Various
Then he caught the glitter of spectacles beneath the hat brim.
Galusha the Magnificent
Joseph C. Lincoln
There was a smile on his face, a glitter in his eyes that fetched her heart into her throat.
Captain Blood
Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for glitter

glitter

verb (intr)

(of a hard, wet, or polished surface) to reflect light in bright flashes
(of light) to be reflected in bright flashes
(usually foll by with) to be decorated or enhanced by the glamour (of)the show glitters with famous actors

noun

sparkle or brilliance
show and glamour
tiny pieces of shiny decorative material used for ornamentation, as on the skin
Also called: silver thaw Canadian ice formed from freezing rain

Derived Formsglitteringly, adverbglittery, adjective

Word Origin for glitter

C14: from Old Norse glitra; related to Old High German glīzan to shine

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

Word Origin and History for glitter

c.1300, glideren (late 14c. as gliteren), from a Scandinavian source, cf. Old Norse glitra "to glitter," from glit "brightness," from Proto-Germanic *glit- "shining, bright" (cf. Old English glitenian "to glitter, shine; be distinguished," Old High German glizzan, German glitzern, Gothic glitmunjan), from PIE *ghleid- (cf. Greek khlidon, khlidos "ornament"), from root *ghel- "to shine, glitter" (see glass). Related: Glittered; glittering. The noun is c.1600, from the verb. Glitter rock is from 1972.

Idioms and Phrases with glitter

glitter

see all that glitters is not gold.