lambent

American  

[lam-buhnt] / ˈlæm bənt /

adjective

1. softly bright or radiant.

   a lambent light.

2. running or moving lightly over a surface.

   lambent tongues of flame.

3. dealing lightly and gracefully with a subject; brilliantly playful.

   lambent wit.

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lambent British  

/ ˈlæmbənt /

adjective

1. (esp of a flame) flickering softly over a surface

2. glowing with soft radiance

3. (of wit or humour) light or brilliant

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Other Word Forms

• lambency noun
• lambently adverb

Etymology

Origin of lambent

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin lambent- (stem of lambēns ) “lapping,” present participle of lambere “to lick, wash” (said of water or fire); akin to lap ³ ; -ent

Example Sentences

Their lambent jams found unexpected enthusiasm inside Melbourne bars.

From New York Times

Breathtaking ombres of color ascend from the horizon, even outside its “golden hour” — the famously lambent period before sunset — even without the haze that amplifies these atmospheric special effects.

From New York Times

Half a century has passed since humans set foot on the moon, but the lunar rocks that they gathered are still revealing important information about Earth’s lambent neighbor.

From National Geographic

I ran my hands over buttery silk button-downs in deep purple and lambent teal during a Tom Ford for Gucci capsule collection, and slipped into a cream column dress with a cutout at the hip.

From Los Angeles Times

Unfolding over the span of just a few days, “Song Lang” renders the two men’s brief encounter, heavy with unspoken longing and connection, against a lambent backdrop of golden-green light and swirling dust.

From New York Times