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Gleam vs Luster - What's the difference?

gleam | luster |

Luster is a synonym of gleam.



As nouns the difference between gleam and luster

is that gleam is a small or indistinct shaft or stream of light while luster is shine, polish or sparkle.

As verbs the difference between gleam and luster

is that gleam is to shine; to glitter; to glisten while luster is to gleam, have luster.

gleam

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • a small or indistinct shaft or stream of light.
  • * Longfellow
    • A glimmer, and then a gleam of light.
  • a glimpse or hint; an indistinct sign of something.
    • The rescue workers preserved a gleam of optimism that they might still survive.
  • brightness or shininess; splendor.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • In the clear azure gleam the flocks are seen.

    Synonyms

    * (small shaft or stream of light) beam, ray * (glimpse or indistinct sign) flicker, glimmer, trace * (brightness or splendor) dazzle, lambency, shine

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shine; to glitter; to glisten.
  • To be briefly but strongly apparent.
  • (obsolete, falconry) To disgorge filth, as a hawk.

    • Synonyms

    * glint, sparkle * (to radiate or emanate) glow, shine * (to be briefly but strongly apparent) flare, flash, kindle

    See also

    * leam

    References

    * * * *

    luster

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (Commonwealth)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Shine, polish or sparkle.
    • ''He polished the brass doorknob to a high luster .
  • * Addison
    • The scorching sun was mounted high, / In all its lustre , to the noonday sky.
  • By extension, brilliance, attractiveness or splendor.
    • ''After so many years in the same field, the job had lost its luster .
  • * Sir H. Wotton
    • His ancestors continued about four hundred years, rather without obscurity than with any great lustre .
  • Refinement, polish or quality.
    • ''He spoke with all the lustre a seasoned enthusiast should have.
  • A candlestick, chandelier, girandole, etc. generally of an ornamental character.
    • (Alexander Pope)
  • A substance that imparts lustre to a surface, such as plumbago or a glaze.
  • A fabric of wool and cotton with a lustrous surface, used for women's dresses.
    • Antonyms
    * (brilliance) (l)
    Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)
    Related terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To gleam, have luster.
  • To give luster, distinguish.
  • To give a coating or other treatment to impart physical luster.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) lustrum, from lustrare, cognate with the above

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A lustrum, quinquennium, a period of five years, originally the interval between Roman censuses.
  • * , II.4.2.ii:
    • Mesue and some other Arabians began to reject and reprehend it; upon whose authority, for many following lusters , it was much debased and quite out of request […].
    Related terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 3

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who lusts.
  • * Bible, Paul
    • Neither fornicators, nor those who serve idols, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor the lusters after mankind shall obtain the kingdom of God.

    Anagrams

    * ----