sparkle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to issue in or as if in little sparks, as fire or light.
The candlelight sparkled in the crystal.
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to emit little sparks, as burning matter.
The flames leaped and sparkled.
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to shine or glisten with little gleams of light, as a brilliant gem; glitter; coruscate.
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to effervesce, as wine.
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to be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a little spark or fiery particle.
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a sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light.
the sparkle of a diamond.
- Synonyms:
- glitter
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brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.
verb
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to issue or reflect or cause to issue or reflect bright points of light
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(intr) (of wine, mineral water, etc) to effervesce
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(intr) to be vivacious or witty
noun
-
a point of light, spark, or gleam
-
vivacity or wit
Related Words
See glisten.
Other Word Forms
- nonsparkling adjective
- outsparkle verb (used with object)
- unsparkling adjective
Etymology
Origin of sparkle
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun and verb); spark 1, -le
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On a recent winter night, frost sparkled in the air like cold confetti and a warm glow spilled from the small windows of a tavern in the one-stoplight village of Sergeantsville, N.J.
When Leah rubbed her hands together, they sparkled, and the inexperienced company shouted their amazement.
From Literature
“It’s beautiful when it sparkles in the sunlight,” replied Squint.
From Literature
The great Solomon Burke can sing anything and his interpretation of “The Mighty Quinn” still meets that criteria, but there’s not enough substance for him in the song or the arrangement for it to sparkle.
From Salon
Skaters make sure the dresses fit OK before McKinnon and her four-person seamstress team add sparkle, which usually means a crystal count in the thousands.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
