scintillate

[sin-tl-eyt]

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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.

(of the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an electromagnetic wave) to fluctuate in a random manner.
(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.

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

Related Words for scintillate

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

Examples from the Web for scintillate

Historical Examples of scintillate

They did not scintillate, but rather glistened with a steady greenish lustre.
The Scalp Hunters
Mayne Reid
And they shone steadily: they did not scintillate, they were calmly glorious.
The Plattner Story and Others
H. G. Wells
Whenever he writes of himself, his pen seems fairly to scintillate.
The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin
Harry Houdini
He may have been an excellent ostler, but did not scintillate as an officers' steward.
Pincher Martin, O.D.
H. Taprell Dorling
It should be well burnt, and should not scintillate or smoke.
The Elements of Blowpipe Analysis
Frederick Hutton Getman

British Dictionary definitions for scintillate

scintillate

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

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