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

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

How to use sparkle in a sentence

  • She pressed her hands tighter upon her bosom; her eyes sparkled with an odd approval of that brisk deed.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • The lady fairly sparkled, with her gold earrings and bracelets, set with precious stones.

  • Before each guest stood a tiny glass that looked and sparkled like a garnet gem.

  • When he returned her stare his eyes sparkled with friendly interest, but no suggestive, flirtatious intent.

    The Man from Time | Frank Belknap Long
  • The gray desert sparkled and gleamed in front of the roadster, but behind it was blotted out by the dust of that mad flight.

    Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. Matthews

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