lustre1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈlʌstə/
(US luster)

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a gentle sheen or soft glow: the lustre of the Milky Way she couldn’t eat and her hair lost its lustre
  • the manner in which the surface of a mineral reflects light.
  • glory or distinction: a celebrity player to add lustre to the line-up
  • 2a thin coating containing unoxidized metal which gives an iridescent glaze to ceramics.
  • ceramics with an iridescent metallic glaze; lustreware: [as modifier]: lustre jugs
  • 3a fabric or yarn with a sheen or gloss: [as modifier]: lustre yarn
  • British a thin dress material with a cotton warp, woollen weft, and a glossy surface.
  • 4 [count noun] a prismatic glass pendant on a chandelier or other ornament: a chandelier dripping with glass lustres
  • a cut-glass chandelier or candelabrum.

Origin:

early 16th century: from French, from Italian lustro, from the verb lustrare, from Latin lustrare 'illuminate'

Spelling help

Remember that lustre ends with -tre (the spelling luster is American).