sparkle

[ spahr-kuhl ]
See synonyms for sparkle on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),spar·kled, spar·kling.
  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.

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

  2. to effervesce, as wine.

  3. to be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.

verb (used with object),spar·kled, spar·kling.
  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.

  1. brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.

Origin of sparkle

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun and verb); see spark1, -le

synonym study For sparkle

3. See glisten.

Other words for sparkle

Other words from sparkle

  • non·spar·kling, adjective
  • outsparkle, verb (used with object), out·spar·kled, out·spar·kling.
  • un·spark·ling, adjective

Words Nearby sparkle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sparkle in a sentence

  • It warmed the heart of Marcelle, too, and made her cheeks glow and her eyes sparkle—and added a rosier color to her lips.

    The Real Latin Quarter | F. Berkeley Smith
  • It certainly does not sparkle now, but it must have come of a witty stock, and have boasted a mirth-provoking pedigree.

  • The sunshine was hot, the snow was brilliantly white, and seemed to sparkle as if covered with diamonds.

    Rudy and Babette | Hans Christian Andersen
  • Through the broad leaves of the trees showed the night sky, pale with moonlight and the sparkle of the stars.

    The Rake's Progress | Marjorie Bowen
  • But here the sparkle in the wine had died, leaving the cup that had brimmed flat and dull and only half full after all.

    The Relief of Mafeking | Filson Young

British Dictionary definitions for sparkle

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

  1. (intr) to be vivacious or witty

noun
  1. a point of light, spark, or gleam

  2. vivacity or wit

Origin of sparkle

1
C12 sparklen, frequentative of sparken to spark 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012