Gleam - Definitions from Dictionary.com

11 results for: Gleam

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

gleam

–noun

1.	a flash or beam of light: the gleam of a lantern in the dark.

2.	a dim or subdued light.

3.	a brief or slight manifestation or occurrence; trace: a gleam of hope.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to send forth a gleam or gleams.

5.	to appear suddenly and clearly like a flash of light.

[Origin: bef. 1000; (n.) ME glem(e), OE glǣm; c. OHG gleimo glowworm; akin to OS glīmo brightness; (v.) ME, deriv. of the n. See glimmer, glimpse

]

—Related forms

gleam·ing·ly, adverb

gleamless, adjective

—Synonyms 1. Gleam, glimmer, beam, ray are terms for a stream of light. Gleam denotes a not very brilliant, intermittent or nondirectional stream of light. Glimmer indicates a nondirectional light that is feeble and unsteady: a faint glimmer of moonlight. Beam usually means a directional, and therefore smaller, stream: the beam from a searchlight. Ray usually implies a still smaller amount of light than a beam, a single line of light: a ray through a pinprick in a window shade. 4. shine, glimmer, flash, glitter, sparkle, beam.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Gleam

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

gleam Audio Help (glēm) Pronunciation Key
n.

A brief beam or flash of light: saw gleams of daylight through the cracks.
A steady but subdued shining; a glow: the gleam of burnished gold.
A brief or dim indication; a trace: a gleam of intelligence.

v. gleamed, gleam·ing, gleams

v. intr.

To emit a gleam; flash or glow: "It shone with gold and gleamed with ivory" (Edith Hamilton). See Synonyms at flash.
To be manifested or indicated briefly or faintly.

v. tr.
To cause to emit a flash of light.

[Middle English glem, from Old English glǣm; see ghel-² in Indo-European roots.]

gleam'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gleam

O.E. glæm "brightness, splendor, radiance," from P.Gmc. *glaimiz (cf. M.H.G. glim "spark," gleime "glowworm;" O.N. glija "to shine, glitter"), from root *glim-, from PIE *ghlei- "to shine, glitter, glow, be warm." Verb is c.1225, from the noun.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

gleam
noun
1.	an appearance of reflected light
2.	a flash of light (especially reflected light)
verb
1.	be shiny, as if wet; "His eyes were glistening" [syn: glitter]
2.	shine brightly, like a star or a light
3.	appear briefly; "A terrible thought gleamed in her mind"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gleam [gliːm] verb

to shine faintly
Example: a light gleaming in the distance

Arabic:	يَلْمَع، يَتَلألأ
Chinese (Simplified):	闪烁
Chinese (Traditional):	閃爍
Czech:	probleskovat, zasvitnout
Danish:	funkle; skinne
Dutch:	glanzen
Estonian:	kumama
Finnish:	välkkyä
French:	luire
German:	glänzen
Greek:	λάμπω
Hungarian:	felvillan
Icelandic:	glampi, bjarmi
Indonesian:	bersinar
Italian:	brillare

Japanese:	かすかに光る
Korean:	희미하게 빛나다
Latvian:	atspīdēt; blāzmot
Lithuanian:	spindėti, šviesti
Norwegian:	glimte, skinne svakt
Polish:	migotać
Portuguese (Brazil):	cintilar, bruxulear
Portuguese (Portugal):	brilhar
Romanian:	a licări
Russian:	поблёскивать
Slovak:	blikať
Slovenian:	svetlikati se
Spanish:	relucir, brillar, destellar
Swedish:	glimma, skimra
Turkish:	pırıldamak, parıldamak

gleam1 [gliːm] noun

a faint glow
Example: the gleam of her eyes

Arabic:	بَريق
Chinese (Simplified):	微光
Chinese (Traditional):	微光
Czech:	záblesk
Danish:	glimt
Dutch:	glans
Estonian:	kuma
Finnish:	kimmellys
French:	lueur
German:	der Glanz
Greek:	αμυδρή λάμψη
Hungarian:	felcsillanás
Icelandic:	glampi
Indonesian:	cahaya
Italian:	luccicore

Japanese:	かすかな輝き
Korean:	희미한 빛
Latvian:	atspīdums
Lithuanian:	spindėjimas
Norwegian:	svakt lysskjær
Polish:	lśnienie
Portuguese (Brazil):	cintilação
Portuguese (Portugal):	brilho
Romanian:	licăr
Russian:	отблеск
Slovak:	záblesk
Slovenian:	lesk
Spanish:	brillo, destello
Swedish:	glimt
Turkish:	pırıltı, parıltı

gleam2 [gliːm] noun

a slight sign or amount
Example: a gleam of hope

Arabic:	وَميض
Chinese (Simplified):	微量
Chinese (Traditional):	微量
Czech:	záblesk
Danish:	glimt
Dutch:	sprankje
Estonian:	välgatus
Finnish:	pilkahdus
French:	lueur
German:	der Schimmer
Greek:	αναλαμπή
Hungarian:	reménysugár
Icelandic:	(vonar)glæta
Indonesian:	sedikit
Italian:	barlume

Japanese:	かすかな現れ
Korean:	희미한 기미
Latvian:	(cerību u.tml.) uzplaiksnījums
Lithuanian:	prošvaistė, spindulys
Norwegian:	glimt
Polish:	przebłysk
Portuguese (Brazil):	lampejo
Portuguese (Portugal):	clarão
Romanian:	licăr
Russian:	проблеск
Slovak:	záblesk
Slovenian:	trohica
Spanish:	rayo, resquicio
Swedish:	skymt, ljusglimt
Turkish:	ışık, parıltı

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gleam

Flash\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.]

1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.

2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.

Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles. --Talfourd.

The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind. --M. Arnold.

A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act. --Tennyson.

3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.

Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other. --Shak.

To flash in the pan, to fail of success. [Colloq.] See under Flash, a burst of light. --Bartlett.

Syn: Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister.

Usage: Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gleam

Gleam\, v. i. [Cf. OE. glem birdlime, glue, phlegm, and E. englaimed.] (Falconry) To disgorge filth, as a hawk.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gleam

Gleam\, n. [OE. glem, gleam, AS. gl[ae]m, prob. akin to E. glimmer, and perh. to Gr. ? warm, ? to warm. Cf. Glitter.]

1. A shoot of light; a small stream of light; a beam; a ray; a glimpse.

Transient unexpected gleams of joi. --Addison.

At last a gleam Of dawning light turned thitherward in haste His [Satan's] traveled steps. --Milton.

A glimmer, and then a gleam of light. --Longfellow.

2. Brightness; splendor.

In the clear azure gleam the flocks are seen. --Pope.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gleam

Gleam\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gleamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Gleaming.]

1. To shoot, or dart, as rays of light; as, at the dawn, light gleams in the east.

2. To shine; to cast light; to glitter.

Syn: To Gleam, Glimmer, Glitter.

Usage: To gleam denotes a faint but distinct emission of light. To glimmer describes an indistinct and unsteady giving of light. To glitter imports a brightness that is intense, but varying. The morning light gleams upon the earth; a distant taper glimmers through the mist; a dewdrop glitters in the sun. See Flash.

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