gleam definition | Dictionary.com

gleam

[gleem]

–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To gleam

gleam (glēm)

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

To emit a gleam; flash or glow: "Their tile roofs gleamed in the moon's pallid radiance" (Laura Joh Rowland). See Synonyms at flash.
To be reflected as a gleam: The sun gleamed on the water.
To be manifested or indicated briefly or faintly.

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

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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Gleam

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

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.

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.

Gleam

Gleam\, v. t. To shoot out (flashes of light, etc.).

Dying eyes gleamed forth their ashy lights. --Shak.

Language Translation for : gleam

Spanish: relucir, brillar, destellar,

German: glänzen,

Japanese: かすかに光る

More Translations »

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.

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