alpenglow

noun

al·​pen·​glow ˈal-pən-ˌglō How to pronounce alpenglow (audio)
: a reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains

Examples of alpenglow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But with the sun lingering just below the horizon, the alpenglow on jagged peaks lasted for at least an hour. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2013 Colorado’s natural beauty — groves of aspen shimmering in fall, snowcapped 14,000-foot peaks bathed in alpenglow — has much to lure outdoor enthusiasts, from college-age tubers to private jet owners. Ben Ryder Howe, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2022 The alpenglow on the mountains in the background lasted for hours. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2014 Then comes the alpenglow, and after that the Earth shadow. Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 June 2022 Rise early to get there by first light, when the alpenglow casts the peak in shades of pink and purple. Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2021 Soon, the sun begins to rise, bathing the peak in alpenglow and motivating you to push on. oregonlive, 15 June 2021 But one day there is an epic pink alpenglow after days of dense winter fog, lighting up the mountains. Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Jan. 2021 Church bells rang from Cortina below, and as if on cue, the setting sun triggering an alpenglow, turning the jagged limestone massif from near white to gold, then rose to red. Amiee White Beazley, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alpenglow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of German Alpenglühen, from Alpen Alps + Glühen glow

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alpenglow was in 1862

Dictionary Entries Near alpenglow

Cite this Entry

“Alpenglow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alpenglow. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!