definitions

scintillate

[ sin-tl-eyt ]
/ ˈsɪn tlˌeɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scintillate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

to emit sparks.
to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brilliance.
to twinkle, as the stars.
Electronics. (of a spot of light or image on a radar display) to shift rapidly around a mean position.
Physics.
  1. (of the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an electromagnetic wave) to fluctuate in a random manner.
  2. (of an energetic photon or particle) to produce a flash of light in a phosphor by striking it.

verb (used with object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

to emit as sparks; flash forth.

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RELATED WORDS

shine, sparkle, flash, glitter, glimmer, twinkle, gleam, coruscate, charm

Nearby words

scintigraph, scintigraphy, scintilla, scintillant, scintillascope, scintillate, scintillating, scintillating scotoma, scintillation, scintillation counter, scintillation spectrometer

Origin of scintillate

First recorded in 1615–25, scintillate is from the Latin word scintillātus (past participle of scintillāre to send out sparks, flash). See scintilla, -ate1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scintillate

British Dictionary definitions for scintillate

scintillate

/ (ˈsɪntɪˌleɪt) /

verb (mainly intr)

(also tr) to give off (sparks); sparkle; twinkle
to be animated or brilliant
physics to give off flashes of light as a result of the impact of particles or photons
Derived Formsscintillant, adjectivescintillantly, adverb

Word Origin for scintillate

C17: from Latin scintillāre, from scintilla a spark
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 scintillate

scintillate

v.

1620s, from Latin scintillatus, past participle of scintillare "to sparkle, glitter, gleam, flash," from scintilla "spark" (see scintilla). Related: Scintillated; scintillating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper