luster

¹lus·ter

noun \ˈləs-tər\

Definition of LUSTER

: a period of five years : lustrum 2

Variants of LUSTER

lus·ter or lus·tre \ˈləs-tər\

Origin of LUSTER

Middle English lustre, from Latin lustrum

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, sesquicentennial

Rhymes with LUSTER

bluster, buster, cluster, Custer, duster, fluster, muster, thruster, truster

²luster

noun

Definition of LUSTER

1

: a glow of reflected light : sheen; specifically : the appearance of the surface of a mineral dependent upon its reflecting qualities

2

a : a glow of light from within : luminosity

b : an inner beauty : radiance

3

: a superficial attractiveness or appearance of excellence

4

a : a glass pendant used especially to ornament a candlestick or chandelier

b : a decorative object (as a chandelier) hung with glass pendants

5

chiefly British : a fabric with cotton warp and a filling of wool, mohair, or alpaca

6

: lusterware

— lus·ter·less \-tər-ləs\ adjective

Variants of LUSTER

luster or lustre

Origin of LUSTER

Middle French lustre, from Old Italian lustro, from lustrare to brighten, from Latin, to purify ceremonially, from lustrum

First Known Use: circa 1522

Other Mineralogy Terms

agate, host, inclusion, matrix, streak

³luster

verb

lus·tered or lus·tredlus·ter·ing or lus·tring \-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of LUSTER

intransitive verb

: to have luster : gleam

transitive verb

1

: to give luster or distinction to

2

: to coat or treat with a substance that imparts luster

Variants of LUSTER

luster or lustre

Examples of LUSTER

1. <her pearl necklace lustered softly in the candlelight of the restaurant>

First Known Use of LUSTER

1528

Related to LUSTER

Synonyms

coruscate, flame, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, flash (or lustre), scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle

Related Words

beam, radiate, shine; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle; blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow