gleam
[ gleem ]
/ glim /
noun
a flash or beam of light: the gleam of a lantern in the dark.
a dim or subdued light.
a brief or slight manifestation or occurrence; trace: a gleam of hope.
verb (used without object)
to send forth a gleam or gleams.
to appear suddenly and clearly like a flash of light.
Origin of gleam
SYNONYMS FOR gleam
1
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.
4 shine, glimmer, flash, glitter, sparkle, beam.
OTHER WORDS FROM gleam
gleam·ing·ly, adverb gleam·less, adjective out·gleam, verb (used with object) un·gleam·ing, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for gleaming
British Dictionary definitions for gleaming
gleam
/ (ɡliːm) /
noun
a small beam or glow of light, esp reflected light
a brief or dim indication
a gleam of hope
verb (intr)
to send forth or reflect a beam of light
to appear, esp briefly
intelligence gleamed in his eyes
Derived forms of gleam
gleaming, adjective gleamy, adjective gleamingly, adverbWord Origin for gleam
Old English
glǣm; related to Old Norse
gljā to flicker, Old High German
gleimo glow-worm,
glīmo brightness, Old Irish
glē bright