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Twinkle vs Glitter - What's the difference?

twinkle | glitter |

Glitter is a synonym of twinkle.



As verbs the difference between twinkle and glitter

is that twinkle is to shine with a flickering light; to glimmer while glitter is to sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant and broken light or showy luster; to gleam.

As nouns the difference between twinkle and glitter

is that twinkle is a sparkle or glimmer of light while glitter is a bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage.

twinkle

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • (of a source of light) to shine with a flickering light; to glimmer
    • We could see the lights of the village twinkling in the distance.
  • * Sir Isaac Newton
    • These stars do not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • The western sky twinkled with stars.
  • (chiefly, of eyes) to be bright with delight
    • His shrewd little eyes twinkled roguishly.
  • to bat, blink or wink the eyes
  • * Mrs. Juliet M. Hueffer Soskice, "Reminiscences of an Artist's Granddaughter",
    • She smiled and gave a little nod and twinkled her eyes
  • * L'Estrange
    • The owl fell a moping and twinkling .
  • to flit to and fro
  • * Dorothy Gilman, "Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle"
    • A butterfly twinkled among the vines

    Synonyms

    * glimmer * scintillate * wink

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a sparkle or glimmer of light
  • * Robert De Beaugrande, "Text, Discourse, and Process",
    • Soon the rocket was out of sight, and the flame was only seen as a tiny twinkle of light.
  • a sparkle of delight in the eyes.
    • He was a rotund, jolly man with a twinkle in his eye.
  • a flitting movement
  • * James Russell Lowell, "Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell",
    • I saw the twinkle of white feet,

    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