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Sparkle vs Glittering - What's the difference?

sparkle | glittering |

As nouns the difference between sparkle and glittering

is that sparkle is a little spark; a scintillation while glittering is the appearance of something that glitters.

As verbs the difference between sparkle and glittering

is that 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 while glittering is present participle of lang=en.

As an adjective glittering is

brightly sparkling.

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)

    glittering

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Brightly sparkling.
  • *
  • *:It was flood-tide along Fifth Avenue; motor, brougham, and victoria swept by on the glittering current; pretty women glanced out from limousine and tonneau; young men of his own type, silk-hatted, frock-coated, the crooks of their walking sticks tucked up under their left arms, passed on the Park side.
  • (lb) Valuable, desirable.
  • *1994 , (Nelson Mandela), (Long Walk to Freedom) , Abacus 2010, p.85:
  • *:Gaur was an example of a man without a BA who seemed infinitely better educated than the fellows who left Fort Hare with glittering degrees.

    • Synonyms

    * aglitter

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The appearance of something that glitters.
  • * (John Locke)
    • Every man carries about him a touchstone, if he will make use of it, to distinguish substantial gold from superficial glitterings , truth from appearances.