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

If confetti supplies have plummeted, if a spangle shortage now afflicts Manhattan, blame a tent at the southwestern corner of Lincoln Center.

From New York Times ● Nov. 17, 2023

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

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

The next morning, everything spangles with light – the grasses and swaying trees; the single cloud that floats above the lake like a tiny whale.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 8, 2020

Still, they keep coming, against all odds, tricked out in spangles, torn shirts, and tattoos, seeking a place where they can find themselves, and one another.

From The New Yorker ● Mar. 12, 2019

In 2010, Prum and his colleagues revealed that a crow-size dinosaur called Anchiornis huxleyi was beautifully adorned: gray body plumage, an auburn mohawk and long white limb feathers with black spangles.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2019

An oblong of blackness relieved with brilliant spangles hung before them and there was the hollow sound of surf on the reef.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

It roils with observations about teamwork, inequality and success, but presents as a spangled, stoner-comedy extravaganza with the moxie to give a Monty Python-esque raspberry to realism.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

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

Barry Keoghan sported a similarly spangled jacket over a mesh tank top, looking not too different than his “Saltburn” character did when he ingratiated himself with the nobility.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 11, 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

After several seconds she parted spangled nails, speaking through her fingers.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

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

Staring up through the ragged branches of the acacia to the stars, spangling the dark sky, he could see only the kindly face of Rekh the goldsmith rising before him in reproach.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

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