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shine

Pronunciation: /ʃʌɪn/
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Definition of shine

verb (past and past participle shone /ʃɒn/ or shined)

[no object]
  • 1(of the sun or another source of light) give out a bright light:the sun shone through the window
  • glow or be bright with reflected light:she brushed her hair until it shone
  • (of a person’s eyes) be bright with emotion:his eyes shone with excitement
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] direct (a torch or other light) somewhere in order to see something in the dark:he shone the torch around the room before entering
  • 2be very talented or perform very well:a boy who shone at nothing
  • 3 (past and past participle shined) [with object] make (an object made of leather, metal, or wood) bright by rubbing it; polish:his shoes were shined to perfection

noun

[in singular]
  • a quality of brightness produced when light is reflected on something:my hair has lost its shine
  • an act of rubbing something to give it a shiny surface:Archie’s shoes got a quick shine from a boy with a cloth

Phrases

take the shine off

spoil the brilliance or excitement of:these concerns are taking the shine off Britain’s economic recovery

take a shine to

informal develop a liking for: Bill’s taken quite a shine to her

Phrasal Verbs

shine through

(of a good quality or skill) be clearly evident:at Murrayfield his talent shone through

Origin:

Old English scīnan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schijnen and German scheinen

shine in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of shine in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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