gleam

¹gleam

noun \ˈglēm\

Definition of GLEAM

1

a : a transient appearance of subdued or partly obscured light <the gleam of dawn in the east> b (1) : a small bright light <the gleam of a match> (2) : glint <a gleam in his eyes>

2

: a brief or faint appearance <a gleam of hope>

— gleamy \ˈglē-mē\ adjective

Examples of GLEAM

1. He saw the gleam of a flashlight in the distance.
2. the rich gleam of the polished wood

Origin of GLEAM

Middle English gleem, from Old English glǣm; akin to Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to GLEAM

Synonyms: blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, light, glow, illumination, incandescence, luminescence, radiance, shine

Related Words: flash, glimmer, glint, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle; daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine; afterglow, aureole (or aureola), aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, stream, sunbeam; glisten, gloss, luster (or lustre), polish, reflection, sheen

Near Antonyms: blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow

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Rhymes with GLEAM

beam, bream, cream, deem, deme, dream, meme, neem, Nîmes, ream, scheme, scream, seam, seem, seme, steam, stream, team, teem, theme