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Sparkle - 7 dictionary results

spar⋅kle

  [spahr-kuhl] verb, -kled, -kling, noun
Use Sparkle in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
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)
6. to cause to sparkle: moonlight sparkling the water; pleasure sparkling her eyes.
–noun
7. a little spark or fiery particle.
8. a sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light: the sparkle of a diamond.
9. brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME (n. and v.); see spark 1 , -le

Synonyms:
3. See glisten. 8. glitter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Sparkle
spar·kle   (spär'kəl)   
v.   spar·kled, spar·kling, spar·kles

v.   intr.
  1. To give off sparks.
  2. To give off or reflect flashes of light; glitter. See Synonyms at flash.
  3. To be brilliant in performance.
    1. To shine with animation: He has eyes that sparkle.
    2. To flash with wit: Her conversation sparkled all evening.
  5. To release gas bubbles; effervesce: Champagne sparkles.
v.   tr.
To cause to flash and glitter: Sunlight was sparkling the waves.
n.  
  1. A small spark or gleaming particle.
  2. A glittering quality.
  3. Brilliant animation; vivacity.
  4. Emission of gas bubbles; effervescence.

[Middle English sparklen, frequentative of sparken, to spark; see spark1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sparkle

Spar"kle\, n. [Dim. of spark.]

1. A little spark; a scintillation.

As fire is wont to quicken and go From a sparkle sprungen amiss, Till a city brent up is. --Chaucer.

The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper. --Prescott.

2. Brilliancy; luster; as, the sparkle of a diamond.

Sparkle

Spar"kle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparkled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sparkling.] [See Sparkle, n., Spark of fire.]

1. To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.

A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling. --Chaucer.

2. To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.

I see bright honor sparkle through your eyes. --Milton.

3. To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.

Syn: To shine; glisten; scintillate; radiate; coruscate; glitter; twinkle.

Sparkle

Spar"kle\, v. t. To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. "Did sparkle forth great light." --Spenser.

Sparkle

Spar"kle\, v. t. [Cf. Sparble.]

1. To disperse. [Obs.]

The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise. --State Papers.

2. To scatter on or over. [Obs.] --Purchas.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Sparkle
Spanish: centelleo, destello,
German: das Funkeln,
Japanese: きらめき
More Translations »

sparkle 
c.1200, frequentative verb form of M.E. sparke (see spark). Of wines, from 1422. The noun is first attested c.1330. Sparkler in the fireworks sense is from 1879.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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