lustre
Americannoun
noun
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reflected light; sheen; gloss
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radiance or brilliance of light
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great splendour of accomplishment, beauty, etc
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a substance used to polish or put a gloss on a surface
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a vase or chandelier from which hang cut-glass drops
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a drop-shaped piece of cut glass or crystal used as a decoration on a chandelier, vase, etc
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a shiny metallic surface on some pottery and porcelain
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( as modifier )
lustre decoration
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mineralogy the way in which light is reflected from the surface of a mineral. It is one of the properties by which minerals are defined
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lustre
C16: from Old French, from Old Italian lustro, from Latin lustrāre to make bright; related to lustrum
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The badge, which was once an intrinsic part of Swinging Sixties British cool, had lost its lustre.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
He argued that rival destinations were gaining ground while Vienna, increasingly expensive compared to other central European capitals, "is losing its lustre".
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Versace's lustre had been waning in recent years, unlike that of the Prada Group, which is in robust health, fuelled by strong sales of its younger Miu Miu Line.
From Barron's ● Dec. 2, 2025
Charles II used them to find details "to add lustre and splendour to the solemnity" of his crowning in 1661.
From BBC ● May 2, 2024
Richard Parker’s fur lost its lustre, and some of it even fell away from his shoulders and haunches.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
The earliest record of lustred pottery in Spain is the geographer Edrisi’s mention of the manufacture of “golden ware” then carried on at Calatayud in Aragon in 1154.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various
It is impossible to discover the origin of the lustred pottery of Valencia, but it probably dates from the beginning of the 15th century, when it became the most important in Spain.
From The Collector's Handbook to Keramics of the Renaissance and Modern Periods by William Chaffers
In the course of the 15th century the manufacture of lustred pottery was carried on at various other small towns near Valencia; in 1484 it was produced at Mislata, Paterna and Gesarte.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various
Amongst the dark, glossy, lustred leaves, the fruits had the brilliance of stained glass windows and perfumed the air all around with the same magnificent aura that usually envelops gorgeous flowers.
From Letters from my Windmill by Alphonse Daudet
Let into the woodwork panelling in the west bay there are two small lustred Persian tiles of the thirteenth century.
From Frederic Lord Leighton An Illustrated Record of His Life and Work by Ernest Rhys
The glue and alum for sizing the lustring are not included, so don't bother yourselves about them, but just take the lustring and give it to them outside to size it with alum for you.
From Hung Lou Meng, Book II Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by H. Bencraft Joly
One lustring hood was brown; and frequently green ribbons were sent; also many yards of scarlet and pink gauze, which seem the very essence of juvenility.
From Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820) by Alice Morse Earle
The material called lutestring was formerly lustring, Fr. lustrine, from its glossiness.
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Ernest Weekley
Once on a day let my beloved write my name, And pour the lustring water with his rosy hands!
From Vidy?pati: Bang?ya pad?bali; songs of the love of R?dh? and Krishna by Vidy?pati Th?kura
"The Major spoils my rose lustring and my orange sack makes the Justice look——" "Like suet," said Betty.
From The Passionate Elopement by Compton MacKenzie
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