spangle

American  

[spang-guhl] / ˈspæŋ gəl /

noun

• spangles
  plural

1. a small, thin, often circular piece of glittering metal or other material, used especially for decorating garments.

2. any small, bright drop, object, spot, or the like.

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verb (used with object)

spangled, spangling

1. to decorate with spangles.

2. to sprinkle or stud with small, bright pieces, objects, spots, etc.

verb (used without object)

spangled, spangling

1. to glitter with or like spangles.

spangle British  

/ ˈspæŋɡəl /

noun

1. a small thin piece of metal or other shiny material used as a decoration, esp on clothes; sequin

2. any glittering or shiny spot or object

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verb

1. (intr) to glitter or shine with or like spangles

2. (tr) to decorate or cover with spangles

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• spangly
  adjective
• unspangled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spangles
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of spangle

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English noun spangel(e), equivalent to spange “spangle” (perhaps from Middle Dutch spange, spaenge “brooch, clasp,” or from Old Norse spǫng “clasp, buckle, spangle”) + -le -le ( def. )

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Explanation

Do you like your outfits to have flair? A little sparkle? Then you're probably a fan of spangles, or small, shiny decorative things like sequins. Vegas showgirls and beauty queens know all about spangle. Their outfits are usually covered in the sequins, crystals, golden beads and sparkly frills that are all considered kinds of spangles. And if you want to use spangle as a verb, go right ahead — as in, "all that glitter certainly makes those showgirls spangle up on stage."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spangle spangles spangled spangling

It fits down to the last spangle on the jumpsuit of every self-respecting wannabe Elvis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2023

It was always the cat eye in high-wattage spangle.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 22, 2023

Saturn has more than 60 moons, but a handful of them do more than spangle the planet’s skies.

From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2019

The cartoonlike “action” lines that animate the cat direct your eye toward a spangle of geometric shapes the passer-by has scattered to the ground to stir up some feline hunting instinct.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 14, 2017

I just stood on the balcony, looking up at the night sky, at the crook of the moon, at the spangle of stars—each one in its proper place.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz

Many were wearing their own sequins and spangles, sparkling spectacles, top hats, feather boas, and in a few cases, Donald Duck suits, representing stages of John’s 55-year career.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

Fairgoers of all ages had spangles applied to their faces by a person claiming to be “Alaska’s first-ever glitter artist.”

From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2022

When Bob Mackie met Cher, it was a match made in spangles.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 20, 2018

In Cher’s case, that involved significantly more spangles — clothing being one of the ways that she rebelled.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2018

She is one of Prospero’s attendant spirits in The Tempest, and has to wear a body stocking, with a gauzy costume over top, sprinkled with dried leaves and spangles.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Joining her were six-piece girl group Katseye, playing their love-it-or-hate-it viral hit Gnarly; and New York indie artist Sombr, sporting a spangled jumpsuit for his rendition of 12 to 12.

From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026

Wednesday from a stage adorned with star spangled banners at his campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2024

From the 1930s to the 1950s, the group blazed a spangled, sparkling path that plenty of country acts would later follow.

From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

The picture is overwhelming yet intimate, confoundingly involved yet spangled with bursts of illumination.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2022

The first firework illuminated the sky, leaving a waterfall of spangled light.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

In addition to spangling the garden with colorful blooms beginning in late winter, native annuals are an ecological powerhouse.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 30, 2023

Finely cut leaves of Japanese maples dangled spangling drops.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 28, 2023

The occasional onscreen spangling of the images with onomatopoeias and impact-sparks provides reminders of Spider-Man’s vintage hand-drawn comic-book origins.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 29, 2018

The Maromandia Damba is a beautiful vertically barred fish with vivid red spangling on the flank.

From New York Times ● Jun. 20, 2011

A good ten yards wide it was, fast-flowing and smooth, spangling and dazzling in the evening sun.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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