Definition of Gleam

1. Noun. An appearance of reflected light.

Exact synonyms: Gleaming, Glow, Lambency
Generic synonyms: Effulgence, Radiance, Radiancy, Refulgence, Refulgency, Shine
Derivative terms: Glow, Lambent

2. Verb. Be shiny, as if wet. "The horizon is gleaming with lights"; "His eyes were glistening"
Exact synonyms: Glint, Glisten, Glitter, Shine
Generic synonyms: Appear, Look, Seem
Specialized synonyms: Spangle, Shimmer
Derivative terms: Glint, Glisten, Glitter

3. Noun. A flash of light (especially reflected light).
Exact synonyms: Gleaming, Glimmer
Generic synonyms: Flash
Derivative terms: Glimmer, Glimmery

4. Verb. Shine brightly, like a star or a light. "The horizon is gleaming with lights"
Exact synonyms: Glimmer
Generic synonyms: Radiate
Derivative terms: Gleaming, Glimmer

5. Verb. Appear briefly. ; "A terrible thought gleamed in her mind"
Generic synonyms: Appear, Come Along

Definition of Gleam

1. v. i. To disgorge filth, as a hawk.

2. n. A shoot of light; a small stream of light; a beam; a ray; a glimpse.

3. v. t. To shoot, or dart, as rays of light; as, at the dawn, light gleams in the east.

4. v. t. To shoot out (flashes of light, etc.).

Definition of Gleam

1. Noun. a small or indistinct shaft or stream of light. ¹

2. Noun. a glimpse or hint; an indistinct sign of something. ¹

3. Noun. brightness or shininess; splendor. ¹

4. Verb. To shine; to glitter; to glisten. ¹

5. Verb. To be briefly but strongly apparent. ¹

6. Verb. (obsolete falconry) To disgorge filth, as a hawk. ¹

¹ Source:

Definition of Gleam

1. to shine with a soft radiance [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Gleam

1. To disgorge filth, as a hawk. Origin: Cf. OE. Glem birdlime, glue, phlegm, and E. Englaimed. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Gleam Pictures


Lexicographical Neighbors of Gleam

glazing agent
gleam (current term)

Literary usage of Gleam


1. A Dictionary of Similes by Frank Jenners Wilstach (1916)
"gleam — continued. gleamed like the flocks of cloudlets bright in sunny air at morn. ... gleam like the golden flash of a moon-lit stream. — Miss LANDON. ..."

"THE wind is shrill on the hills, and the culver Wheels up and down with a windy gleam ; The birch has unloosened her locks or silver, And shaken them down ..."

3. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1865)
"The Bagman only paused long enough to catch sight of the gleam of a barrel, when, spurring his horse, he dashed past that of the traveller, and galloped ..."

4. Walden; Or, Life in the Woods: Or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau (1893)
"Did thy bright gleam mysterious converse hold With our congenial souls ? secrets too bold ? Well, we are safe and strong, for now we sit Beside a hearth ..."

5. The Iliad of Homer by Homer, John Graham Cordery (1871)
"He hath no knowledge in him—not a gleam. 160 For not with thee the blissful Gods are wroth ; And soon the princes and the chiefs of Troy O'er yonder plain ..."

6. The English Poets: Selections with Critical Introductions by Thomas Humphry Ward (1918)
"... A gleam! Ah! You and I love our boy. Such a warrior is he; So splendid of limb, so swift and so joyous, At his lightest word we touch each other and ..."

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