sparkle

[spahr-kuhl]

verb (used without object)

sparkled, sparkling 

1. to issue in or as if in little sparks, as fire or light.

   The candlelight sparkled in the crystal.

2. to emit little sparks, as burning matter.

   The flames leaped and sparkled.

3. to shine or glisten with little gleams of light, as a brilliant gem; glitter; coruscate.

4. to effervesce, as wine.

5. to be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.

verb (used with object)

sparkled, sparkling 

1. to cause to sparkle.

   moonlight sparkling the water;

   pleasure sparkling her eyes.

noun

1. a little spark or fiery particle.

2. a sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light.

   the sparkle of a diamond.

   Synonyms: glitter

3. brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.

sparkle

/ ˈspɑːkəl /

verb

1. to issue or reflect or cause to issue or reflect bright points of light

2. (intr) (of wine, mineral water, etc) to effervesce

3. (intr) to be vivacious or witty

noun

1. a point of light, spark, or gleam

2. vivacity or wit

Other Word Forms

• nonsparkling adjective
• outsparkle verb (used with object)
• unsparkling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparkle¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun and verb); spark ¹, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparkle¹

C12 sparklen, frequentative of sparken to _spark ¹

Synonym Study

See glisten.

Example Sentences

"The spray tans, the hair and make-up, and the sparkles, the costumes... and the glamour," she said.

From BBC

And, sounding a note that is ominous for those hoping to challenge Liverpool for the title, once again this was not a performance sprinkled with the sparkle of champions.

From BBC

The nights are drawing in, the tans are fading and we all need a bit of sparkle in our lives as we head into autumn.

From BBC

And the wedding itself was a glittering affair, with Noel Coward and Douglas Fairbanks Jr adding Hollywood sparkle and Queen Elizabeth II leading a procession of the royal families of Europe.

From BBC

Jewellery journalist Rachael Taylor said the softer sparkle on the stone was likely because it was an antique cut by hand rather than by machine.

From BBC

Related Words

• flicker 
• gleam 
• glimmer 
• glint 
• glisten 
• glow 
• scintillate 
• shimmer 
• twinkle 
• wink