lustre

American  

[luhs-ter] / ˈlʌs tər /

noun

lustred, lustring

1. Chiefly British. a variant of luster.

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lustre British  

/ ˈlʌstə /

noun

1. reflected light; sheen; gloss

2. radiance or brilliance of light

3. great splendour of accomplishment, beauty, etc

4. a substance used to polish or put a gloss on a surface

5. a vase or chandelier from which hang cut-glass drops

6. a drop-shaped piece of cut glass or crystal used as a decoration on a chandelier, vase, etc

7. 1. a shiny metallic surface on some pottery and porcelain

   2. ( as modifier )

      lustre decoration

8. 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

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verb

1. to make, be, or become lustrous

Other Word Forms

• lustreless adjective
• lustrous adjective

Etymology

Origin of lustre

C16: from Old French, from Old Italian lustro, from Latin lustrāre to make bright; related to _lustrum

Example Sentences

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

The mold is hand polished to a mirror finish, giving the bumper its lustre.

From Reuters • Sep. 18, 2023

There were many reasons for their failings, one of the most striking being the fading lustre of an ageing golden generation.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2022

Money began to pour in, adding lustre to a city previously associated mainly with heavy industry - and war.

From BBC • May 17, 2022

His countenance reminded one of a lamp quenched, waiting to be re-lit—and alas! it was not himself that could now kindle the lustre of animated expression: he was dependent on another for that office!

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë