Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

gleam

1 verb
     
gleam1 [intransitive]
1 to shine softly [= glimmer]:
His teeth gleamed under his moustache.
gleam with
The wooden panelling was gleaming with wax polish.
2 if your eyes or face gleam with a feeling, they show it [= glint]
gleam with
He laughed, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
—gleaming adjective:
gleaming white walls
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:

gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, glowAll these words mean 'to shine' but are used in slightly different ways.gleam is used especially of smooth clean surfaces that shine • She polished the car until it gleamed. • gleaming white teethglint means to shine brightly with a small flash of light. It is used especially of shiny metals • Her jewellery glinted in the sun.glisten is used of wet or oily surfaces that shine • The wet streets glistened.glitter means to shine brightly with many small flashes of light • the glittering frostglow means to shine with a warm soft steady light. It is often used of things that give off heat • The coal in the fireplace was still glowing.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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