Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

gleam

Pronunciation: /gliːm/

Translate gleam | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of gleam

verb

[no object]
  • shine brightly, especially with reflected light:light gleamed on the china cats her eyes gleamed with satisfaction
  • (of a smooth surface or object) reflect light because well polished:Victor buffed the glass until it gleamed (as adjective gleaming)gleaming black limousines
  • (of an emotion or quality) be expressed through the brightness of a person’s eyes:affection gleamed in her large green eyes

noun

  • a faint or brief light, especially one reflected from something:the gleam of a silver tray
  • a brief or faint instance of a quality or emotion:the gleam of hope vanished
  • an expression of an emotion or quality in a person’s eyes:she saw a gleam of triumph in his eyes

Phrases

a gleam in someone's eye

see eye.

Derivatives

gleamingly

adverb

gleamy

adjective ( archaic)

Origin:

Old English glǣm 'brilliant light', of Germanic origin

gleam in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of gleam in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

Word of the day

synodic

/ sɪˈnɒdɪk /
adjective
relating to or involving the conjunction of celestial objects …