51Թ

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View synonyms for

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)

  1. to send forth a gleam or gleams.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , , ,
  2. to appear suddenly and clearly like a flash of light.

gleam

/ ɡː /

noun

  1. a small beam or glow of light, esp reflected light

  2. a brief or dim indication

    a gleam of hope

“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

verb

  1. to send forth or reflect a beam of light

  2. to appear, esp briefly

    intelligence gleamed in his eyes

“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
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • gleamless adjective
  • outgleam verb (used with object)
  • ˈ𲹳Բ adjective
  • ˈ𲹳Բly adverb
  • ˈ𲹳 adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of gleam1

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English glem(e), Old English ǣ; cognate with Old High German gleimo “glowworm”; akin to Old Saxon ī “brightness”; (verb) Middle English, derivative of the noun. See glimmer, glimpse
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of gleam1

Old English ǣ; related to Old Norse to flicker, Old High German gleimo glow-worm, ī brightness, Old Irish ŧ bright
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The clean, gleaming surfaces leave an impression of what Elsinore castle might be like as a coastal McMansion on one of the “Real Housewives” series.

From

But keep your whisk moving, and you’ll feel it: the moment the sauce thickens, holds, and gleams just slightly.

From

A metal detectorist has discovered a gold mourning ring dating from the 18th Century "gleaming in the sunshine".

From

A gleaming orange-and-white Brown Jordan patio set is visible through the windows long before you enter.

From

The bakery team whips up nine flavors of pie, plus danishes, eclairs, giant cinnamon rolls, cream puffs and cupcakes, all of which gleam from their wood-and-glass cases at a corner of the Copper Cafe.

From

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When To Use

What does gleam mean?



A gleam is a flash or flicker of light, as in As Val scrolled through their phone in the dark, the screen projected a gleam of light on their face.



A gleam is also a dim light, such as you might get from a flashlight with a dying battery.



To gleam means to send out a gleam, as in The candle gleamed in the darkness.



To gleam also means to appear quickly and clearly, as a flash of light would.



Example: I love the way this dress gleams in the sun.

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Gld.gleaming