shine

[ shahyn ]

/ ʃaɪn /

verb (used without object), shone or shined, shin·ing.

to give forth or glow with light; shed or cast light.

to be bright with reflected light; glisten; sparkle.

(of light) to appear brightly or strongly, especially uncomfortably so: Wear dark glasses so the sun won't shine in your eyes.

to be or appear unusually animated or bright, as the eyes or face.

to appear with brightness or clearness, as feelings.

to excel or be conspicuous: to shine in school.

verb (used with object), shone or shined, shin·ing.

to cause to shine.

to direct the light of (a lamp, mirror, etc.): Shine the flashlight on the steps so I can see.

to put a gloss or polish on; polish (as shoes, silverware, etc.).

noun

radiance or brightness caused by emitted or reflected light.

luster; polish.

sunshine; fair weather.

a polish or gloss given to shoes.

an act or instance of polishing shoes.

Informal. a foolish prank; caper.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a black person.

Verb Phrases past and past participle shone or shined; present participle shin·ing.

shine up to, Informal.

to attempt to impress (a person), especially in order to gain benefits for oneself.
to become especially attentive to (one of the opposite sex): Men shine up to her like moths to a light.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

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Idioms for shine

come rain or shine,

regardless of the weather.
no matter what the circumstances may be: Come rain or shine, he is always on the job.

Also rain or shine.

take a shine to, Informal. to take a liking or fancy to: That little girl has really taken a shine to you.

Origin of shine

before 900; Middle English s(c)hinen (v.), Old English scīnan; cognate with Dutch schijnen, German scheinen, Old Norse skīna, Gothic skeinan

SYNONYMS FOR shine

1 glimmer, shimmer. Shine, beam, glare refer to the emitting or reflecting of light. Shine refers to a steady glowing or reflecting of light: to shine in the sun. That which beams gives forth a radiant or bright light: to beam like a star. Glare refers to the shining of a light that is not only bright but so strong as to be unpleasant and dazzling: to glare like a headlight.

9 buff, burnish, brighten.

11 gloss, gleam, glow, sheen.

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OTHER WORDS FROM shine

un·shined, adjective

Words nearby shine

shin splints, shinar, shinbone, shindig, shindy, shine, shine up to, shiner, shiner perch, shingle, shingle oak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for shine up to

shine

/ (ʃaɪn) /

verb shines, shining or shone

(intr) to emit light

(intr) to glow or be bright with reflected light

(tr) to direct the light of (a lamp, etc)he shone the torch in my eyes

(tr; past tense and past participle shined) to cause to gleam by polishingto shine shoes

(intr) to be conspicuously competent; excelshe shines at tennis

(intr) to appear clearly; be conspicuousthe truth shone out of his words

noun

the state or quality of shining; sheen; lustre

rain or shine or come rain or shine

whatever the weather
regardless of circumstances

informal short for moonshine (def. 2)

informal a liking or fancy (esp in the phrase take a shine to)

Word Origin for shine

Old English scīnan; related to Old Norse skīna, Gothic skeinan, Old High German scīnan to shine, Greek skia shadow

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

Idioms and Phrases with shine up to (1 of 2)

shine up to

Try to impress or please, be attentive to, as in George was always shining up to the teacher, or Her father warned her about men shining up to her for her money. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with shine up to (2 of 2)

shine

In addition to the idiom beginning with shine

shine up to

also see:

make hay while the sun shines
rain or shine
rise and shine
take a fancy (shine) to

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shine

verb (used without object), shone or shined, shin·ing.

verb (used with object), shone or shined, shin·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases past and past participle shone or shined; present participle shin·ing.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Idioms for shine

Origin of shine

SYNONYMS FOR shine

OTHER WORDS FROM shine

Words nearby shine

British Dictionary definitions for shine up to

verb shines, shining or shone

noun

Word Origin for shine

Idioms and Phrases with shine up to (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with shine up to (2 of 2)

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

shine

verb (used without object), shone or shined, shin·ing.

verb (used with object), shone or shined, shin·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases past and past participle shone or shined; present participle shin·ing.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Idioms for shine

Origin of shine

SYNONYMS FOR shine

OTHER WORDS FROM shine

Words nearby shine

Words related to shine up to

British Dictionary definitions for shine up to

verb shines, shining or shone

noun

Word Origin for shine

Idioms and Phrases with shine up to (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with shine up to (2 of 2)