glow

[gloh]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR glow ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a light emitted by or as if by a substance heated to luminosity; incandescence.

brightness of color.

a sensation or state of bodily heat.

a warm, ruddy color of the cheeks.

warmth of emotion or passion; ardor.

verb (used without object)

to emit bright light and heat without flame; become incandescent.

to shine like something intensely heated.

to exhibit a strong, bright color; be lustrously red or brilliant.

(of the cheeks) to exhibit a healthy, warm, ruddy color.

to become or feel very warm or hot.

to show emotion or elation: to glow with pride.

Origin of glow

before 1000; Middle English glowen (v.), Old English glōwan; akin to German glühen, Old Norse glōa

Related formsout·glow, verb (used with object)un·der·glow, noun

Synonyms for glow

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR glow ON THESAURUS.COM

9. flush, blush, redden.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for glow

bloom, radiance, glare, blossom, light, brilliance, intensity, glimmer, gleam, glitter, warmth, ray, afterglow, shine, glisten, twinkle, flare, flush, brighten, blaze

Examples from the Web for glow

Contemporary Examples of glow

Glow: The Autobiography of Rick JamesRick James David Ritz (Atria Books) Where to begin?
The Best Memoirs of 2014
William O’Connor
December 9, 2014
Of course, in her Neverland they bleach your teeth so white they glow and Madonna coaches you on your convincing British accent.
‘Peter Pan Live!’ Review: No Amount of Clapping Brings It to Life
Kevin Fallon
December 5, 2014
“He said, ‘Look in the mirror, and see the glow in your face,’” Allison recalls Cosby saying, according to the Daily News.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004
Marlow Stern
November 24, 2014
In order to get the ghosts to glow, we had to do what was called a double burn.
Garfield Television: The Cat Who Saved Primetime Cartoons
Rich Goldstein
November 5, 2014
However, exposed rock and larger sand grains have higher thermal inertia, so they glow more brightly.
The Best Map of Mars Yet
Matthew R. Francis
July 20, 2014

Historical Examples of glow

And were he only—but I will not make you glow, as you read—upon my word I will not.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
I do so; and cannot own any of the glow, any of the throbs you mention.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
No, he could not—which admission did not lessen the glow on his cheek.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
The glow on her cheeks was not all caused by the fresh air of the spring day.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
Eileen had been complimented until she was in a glow of delight.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter

British Dictionary definitions for glow

glow

noun

light emitted by a substance or object at a high temperature

a steady even light without flames

brilliance or vividness of colour

brightness or ruddiness of complexion

a feeling of wellbeing or satisfaction

intensity of emotion; ardour

verb (intr)

to emit a steady even light without flames

to shine intensely, as if from great heat

to be exuberant or high-spirited, as from excellent health or intense emotion

to experience a feeling of wellbeing or satisfactionto glow with pride

(esp of the complexion) to show a strong bright colour, esp a shade of red

to be very hot

Word Origin for glow

Old English glōwan; related to Old Norse glōa, Old High German gluoen, Icelandic glōra to sparkle

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 glow

Old English glowan "to glow, shine as if red-hot," from Proto-Germanic base *glo- (cf. Old Saxon gloian, Old Frisian gled "glow, blaze," Old Norse gloa, Old High German gluoen, German glühen "to glow"), from PIE *ghel- (see glass). Figuratively from late 14c. Related: Glowed; glowing.

mid-15c., from glow (v).