gleam

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An appearance of light, especially one which is indistinct or small, or short-lived.

   • Is not yon gleame, the ſhuddering morne that flakes, / VVith ſiluer tinctur, the eaſt vierge of heauen?
   • VVhat a gloom hangs all around! the dying lamp feebly emits a yellovv gleam, no ſound is heard but of the chiming clock, or the diſtant vvatch-dog.
2. 2

   An indistinct sign of something

   An indistinct sign of something; a glimpse or hint.

   • The rescue workers preserved a gleam of optimism that the trapped miners might still survive.
   • On the fifteenth of June a gleam of hope appeared.
3. 3

   A bright, but intermittent or short-lived, appearance of something.

4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A look of joy or liveliness on one's face.

      • [H]is black visage lighted up with a curious, mischievous gleam.
      • Sunny, thank you for that smile upon your face / Sunny, thank you, thank you for the gleam that flows its grace
      • Got no money to spend / not a dime or a friend / Yet things are gonna go my way / Got the sun in the sky, and a gleam in my eye / Not gonna think of yesterday
   2. 5

      Sometimes as hot gleam

      Sometimes as hot gleam: a warm ray of sunlight; also, a period of warm weather, for instance, between showers of rain.

   3. 6

      Brightness or shininess

      Brightness or shininess; radiance, splendour.

      • Then vvas the faire Dodonian tree far ſeene, / Vpon ſeauen hills to ſpread his gladſome gleame, / And conquerours bedecked vvith his greene, / Along the bancks of the Auſonian ſtreame: […]
      • In the clear azure gleam the flocks are ſeen, / And floating foreſts paint the vvaves vvith green.
   4. 7

      Chiefly in conjunction with an adverb

      Chiefly in conjunction with an adverb: to cause (light) to shine.

   5. 8

      To shine, especially in an indistinct or intermittent manner

      To shine, especially in an indistinct or intermittent manner; to glisten, to glitter.

      • Quick to redeem the Prey their plighted Lords / Advance, the Palace gleams vvith ſhining Svvords.
      • Beneath an oak he laid him down, / That in the blaze gleamed ruddy brown, […]
      • Green as a liquid emerald, or the hue / Of the green grape, in autumn sunshine growing! / Even as thou gleamest this golden summer's day!
   6. 9

      To be strongly but briefly apparent.

   7. 10

      Of a hawk or other bird of prey

      Of a hawk or other bird of prey: to disgorge filth from its crop or gorge.

      • Gleam, a term uſed after a hawk hath caſt and gleameth, or throweth up filth from her gorge.

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