lustre
Americannoun
noun
-
reflected light; sheen; gloss
-
radiance or brilliance of light
-
great splendour of accomplishment, beauty, etc
-
a substance used to polish or put a gloss on a surface
-
a vase or chandelier from which hang cut-glass drops
-
a drop-shaped piece of cut glass or crystal used as a decoration on a chandelier, vase, etc
-
-
a shiny metallic surface on some pottery and porcelain
-
( as modifier )
lustre decoration
-
-
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:
Created by the British company Core Design, the "Tomb Raider" series lost its lustre as the quality of new editions declined over time.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 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
The EFL Cup does not carry the same lustre as the Champions League or Premier League, but Guardiola did not care about that as he basked in his latest success.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2026
For another, there is the feeling that grands prix risk losing their lustre if there are too many.
From BBC ● May 14, 2024
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
"All right," called Cleghorn, giving a few strokes of the pump, but never taking his eyes from the lustred pots.
From The Collectors by Frank Jewett Mather
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
Within her eyes the sapphire gates of heaven unclosed to me; in the splendor of lustred hair was life-warmth.
From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 2, February, 1864 Devoted To Literature And National Policy by Various
The policy, then, which in most simple and single, and least lustred with the pomp and bravery of ceremonies, cannot but be most expedient for edification.
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by George Gillespie
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
Conceive it pawed about and handled between the rude jests of tarpaulin ruffians—a thing of its delicate texture—the salt bilge wetting it till it became as vapid as a damaged lustring.
From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 2 Elia and The Last Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb
One of these caps in heavy black lustring lingered by chance in my home--worn by some forgotten ancestor.
From Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820) by Alice Morse Earle
He blushed with delight when he fancied he saw himself in the middle of a large office, with lustring elbow sleeves, and a pen behind his ear.
From Theresa Raquin by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly
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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
