Definition of glitter verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

glitter

verb

/ˈɡlɪtə(r)/

/ˈɡlɪtər/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they glitter	/ˈɡlɪtə(r)/ /ˈɡlɪtər/
he / she / it glitters	/ˈɡlɪtəz/ /ˈɡlɪtərz/
past simple glittered	/ˈɡlɪtəd/ /ˈɡlɪtərd/
past participle glittered	/ˈɡlɪtəd/ /ˈɡlɪtərd/
-ing form glittering	/ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/ /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/

Idioms

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[intransitive] to shine brightly with little flashes of light, like a diamond synonym sparkle
- The ceiling of the cathedral glittered with gold.
- The water glittered in the sunlight.
Synonyms shine
shinegleam ▪ glow ▪ sparkle ▪ glisten ▪ shimmer ▪ glitter ▪ twinkle ▪ glintThese words all mean to produce or reflect light.
shine to produce or reflect light, especially brightly:
The sun was shining and the sky was blue.
gleam to shine with a clear bright or pale light, especially a reflected light:
Moonlight gleamed on the water.
glow (often of something hot or warm) to produce a steady light that is not very bright:
The end of his cigarette glowed red.
sparkle to shine brightly with small flashes of light:
The diamonds sparkled in the light.
glisten (of something wet) to shine:
The road glistened wet after the rain.
shimmer to shine with a soft light that seems to shake slightly:
Everything seemed to shimmer in the heat.
glitter to shine brightly with small flashes of reflected light:
The ceiling of the cathedral glittered with gold.
sparkle or glitter?There is very little difference in meaning between these two words. Glitter can sometimes suggest a lack of depth, but this is more frequent in the figurative use of glitter as a noun: the superficial glitter of show business. Sparkle is also often used to talk about light reflected off a surface, but things that produce light can also sparkle: Stars sparkled in the sky.
twinkle to shine with a light that changes rapidly from bright to faint to bright again:
Stars twinkled in the sky.
glint to give small bright flashes of reflected light:
The blade of the knife glinted in the darkness.
Patterns
- to shine/gleam/sparkle/glisten/shimmer/glitter/glint on something
- to shine/gleam/glow/sparkle/glisten/shimmer/glitter/twinkle/glint with something
- to shine/gleam/sparkle/glisten/shimmer/glitter/glint in the sunlight
- to shine/gleam/glisten/shimmer/glitter/glint in the moonlight
- the stars shine/sparkle/glitter/twinkle
- somebody’s eyes shine/gleam/glow/sparkle/glisten/glitter/twinkle/glint
- to shine/gleam/glow/glitter brightly
- to shine/gleam/glow/shimmer softly
Extra Examples
- Crystal chandeliers glittered brightly above them.
- His metal buttons glittered in the sunlight.
- Sunlight glittered on the snow.
- The Christmas lights glittered on the tower of St Clement's Church.
- Trees and grass glittered with dew.
- The sky was clear and glittering with icy stars.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- brightly
preposition
- in
- with
See full entry
Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.
[intransitive] glitter (with something) (of the eyes) to shine brightly with a particular emotion, usually a strong one
- His eyes glittered with greed.
Extra Examples
- He was watching her with glittering eyes.
- His deep-set eyes glittered coldly.
- Her eyes glittered with delight.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- coldly
- dangerously
- darkly
- …
preposition
- with
See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old Norse glitra.

Idioms

all that glitters/glistens/glisters is not gold

(saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc.

See glitter in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Check pronunciation: glitter

Other results

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glitter noun

Nearby words

trait

noun

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