glisten Hear it!

glisten Definition

glis·ten (glisən)

intransitive verb

to shine or sparkle with reflected light, as a wet or polished surface does

Etymology: ME glistnen (with unhistoric -t-) < OE glisnian < base of glisian, to shine < IE *ghleis- < base *ĝhel- > gleam, glass

noun

a glistening

glisten Synonyms

glisten

v.

shine, sparkle, shimmer, flicker, flash; see also shine 1. See syn. study at flash.

glisten Usage Examples

Object

  • glacier: Eight large lakes, glistening glaciers and year round snow capped mountains.
  • lake: Look in awe over the glistening lakes and marshes within, and see the curvature of the earth on the horizon.
  • peak: Majestic and enduring, their peaks glistened as the sun caught and reflected the layers of snow.
  • sun: Garrett: The Jungle Plains, Open and Airy, Earth baking under the glistening sun, Bright light streams through the bush.
  • hair: The leaves are coated with a protective layer of glistening silver hairs which more than compensate for its rather disappointing flowers.
  • eye: He meant it; his eyes glistened in the light from the neon sign.

Converse of object

  • make: There was a heavy dew making the grass glisten.

Adjective complement

  • white: From Skokholm looking west over the Atlantic, the tiny island of Grassholm lies white on one side, glistening white with Gannets.

Modifying Another Word

  • still: Their skin still glistened with water from the loch.
  • all: His skin was glistening all over with perfumed oil.

Preposition: in

  • moonlight: The blade glistened in the moonlight which was allowed to enter the room through cracks in the curtains.
  • sunlight: Once the kayak was on the water the droplets glistened in the sunlight, it was just like paddling a new kayak.
  • sun: Cloud clearing by dawn pleasant start to the morning with good periods of sunshine, the wet glass glistening in the early morning sun.
  • sunshine: And there, in a number of these photos, was none other than Melvyn the Morris, glistening in the sepia colored sunshine.
  • light: The dome of the Victoria memorial glistens in early morning light.
  • rain: The orange haired fullness of the super skunk glistens in the crystal rain of its widow origins.

Preposition: with

  • dew: In the early morning light the grass on the fields glistened with heavy dew.
  • sweat: There was rhythm and beauty in their lean moving pistons which glistened with oily sweat like the limbs of a straining athlete.
  • moisture: The floor was littered with pebbles, the walls glistened with moisture.

Preposition: like

  • diamond: Birds chirped their merry tunes, rivers glistened like diamonds, mountains stood like giants basking in the sun.

Browse dictionary entries near glisten

  1. glissando
  2. glissade
  3. glioma
  4. glint
  5. Glinka
  6. glimpse
  7. glimmering
  8. glimmer
  9. glim
  10. glider
  1. glister
  2. glitch
  3. glitter
  4. glitterati
  5. glittery
  6. glitz
  7. glitzy
  8. Gliwice
  9. gloaming
  10. gloat