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Glitter vs Sparkle - What's the difference?

glitter | sparkle | Synonyms |

Glitter is a synonym of sparkle.


As nouns the difference between glitter and sparkle

is that glitter is a bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage while sparkle is a little spark; a scintillation.

As verbs the difference between glitter and sparkle

is that glitter is to sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant and broken light or showy luster; to gleam; as, a glittering sword while sparkle is to emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.

glitter

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage.
  • A shiny, decorative adornment, sometimes sprinkled on glue to make simple artwork.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant and broken light or showy luster; to gleam.
  • a glittering sword
    the glittering ornaments on a Christmas tree
  • * Dryden
  • The field yet glitters with the pomp of war.
  • To be showy, specious, or striking, and hence attractive.
  • the glittering scenes of a court

    Derived terms

    * all that glitters is not gold

    sparkle

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), (m), equivalent to .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A little spark; a scintillation.
  • * Spenser
  • As sparkles from the anvil rise, / When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed.
  • * Prescott
  • The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper.
  • Brilliance; luster.
  • the sparkle of a diamond.
    =

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), (m), (m), equivalent to .

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete)

    Verb

    (sparkl)
  • To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.
  • * A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling . — Chaucer.
  • * , chapter=5
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.}}
  • To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
  • * Milton
  • I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes.
  • To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.
  • To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
  • * Did sparkle forth great light. — Spenser
  • (obsolete) To disperse.
  • * The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise. — State Papers.
  • (obsolete) To scatter on or over.
  • Synonyms
    * shine, glisten, scintillate, radiate, coruscate, glitter, twinkle =

    References

    * (Webster 1913)