spangle

1 of 2

noun

span·​gle ˈspaŋ-gəl How to pronounce spangle (audio)
1
: a small plate of shining metal or plastic used for ornamentation especially on clothing
2
: a small glittering object or particle

spangle

2 of 2

verb

spangled; spangling ˈspaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce spangle (audio)

transitive verb

: to set or sprinkle with or as if with spangles

intransitive verb

: to glitter as if covered with spangles : sparkle

Examples of spangle in a Sentence

Noun showgirls dressed in costumes with gold spangles Verb in typical Las Vegas fashion, the showgirls' sequined costumes spangled gloriously
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The King returned on June 27, 1973, this time in white with red, white and blue spangles. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2024 Bandit grew up with the idea that femininity meant fashion, spangles, performance. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2023 The legends of the ’60s and ’70s now tour the casinos and outdoor festivals decked out in calmer, more assured versions of the spangle and sartorial peacocking that brought them here — and kept them here, longer than anyone imagined pop stars could live. Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023 Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow. Jack Healy, New York Times, 31 July 2023 Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes, and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow. Jack Healy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2023 At the Cannes Film Festival in May, ingenue Elle Fanning was transformed by a sensual Greco-Roman goddess gown of hundreds of silver feather-like spangles from the Fall 2023 collection that stood apart even on Hollywood’s most daring red carpet. Jessica Iredale, Town & Country, 5 July 2023 It was also embroidered with gilt metal thread, wire, and spangles by the folks at Edward Stillwell & Company. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 May 2023 The sky is coated with blue lacquer, and silver spangles represent the stars. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2023
Verb
Puff sleeves mark the debutant, spangles the circus performer; there’s satin lingerie for the coquette, goddess pleats and chainmail for the latter-day flapper. Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024 The event was spangled with Peter Rabbit cut-outs, balloons, desserts like a multitiered Peter Rabbit cake, a DJ, a photo booth and more. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 Similarly, the flavorful pork chop—probably the most traditionally Filipino item on the menu—slathered in a creamy Billi Bi sauce, liberally spangled with mussels, and showered in trout roe, could have removed at least one piece of jewelry before departing the kitchen. Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023 Chopra’s dress—sheer and intricately spangled, revealing a high-waist lingerie set beneath—was taken from Giambattista Valli’s fall 2023 collection. Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 7 Sep. 2023 The score’s million details spangled the surface, all competing for simultaneous attention. Vulture, 22 May 2023 One pivotal performance in a later episode that begins a dark period for Daisy features a sheer black caftan spangled in sequins—which Wingate sourced from Free People. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023 In one of those fine cosmic coincidences that spangle throughout cultural history, the poet Hart Crane watched the legendary dancer Isadora Duncan perform in Cleveland one night in December 1922. Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2021 After dinner, the captain, crew, and willing passengers bring out guitars, fiddles, harmonicas, banjos — one boat even has a piano aboard – and sing and play until the stars spangle the night sky. Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 24 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spangle.' 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

Noun

Middle English spangel, diminutive of spang shiny ornament, probably from Middle Dutch spange; akin to Old English spang buckle, Middle Dutch spannen to stretch

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of spangle was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near spangle

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

spangle

1 of 2 noun
span·​gle ˈspaŋ-gəl How to pronounce spangle (audio)
1
: a small piece of shining metal or plastic used for ornamentation on clothing
2
: a small glittering object

spangle

2 of 2 verb
spangled; spangling ˈspaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce spangle (audio)
: to set or sprinkle with or as if with spangles

More from Merriam-Webster on spangle

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