scintillate

[ sin-tl-eyt ]
/ ˈsɪn tlˌeɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR scintillate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

to emit sparks.
to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brilliance.
to twinkle, as the stars.
Electronics. (of a spot of light or image on a radar display) to shift rapidly around a mean position.
Physics.
  1. (of the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an electromagnetic wave) to fluctuate in a random manner.
  2. (of an energetic photon or particle) to produce a flash of light in a phosphor by striking it.

verb (used with object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

to emit as sparks; flash forth.

Origin of scintillate

First recorded in 1615–25, scintillate is from the Latin word scintillātus (past participle of scintillāre to send out sparks, flash). See scintilla, -ate1

Words nearby scintillate

scintigraph, scintigraphy, scintilla, scintillant, scintillascope, scintillate, scintillating, scintillating scotoma, scintillation, scintillation counter, scintillation spectrometer

Words related to scintillate

shine, sparkle, flash, glitter, glimmer, twinkle, gleam, coruscate, charm

Example sentences from the Web for scintillate

British Dictionary definitions for scintillate

scintillate
/ (ˈsɪntɪˌleɪt) /

verb (mainly intr)

(also tr) to give off (sparks); sparkle; twinkle
to be animated or brilliant
physics to give off flashes of light as a result of the impact of particles or photons

Derived forms of scintillate

scintillant, adjective scintillantly, adverb

Word Origin for scintillate

C17: from Latin scintillāre, from scintilla a spark