gleam
Brief bright moment
A gleam is a faint or brief light, often reflected: a gleam of moonlight on the water, the gleam of polished brass.
To gleam is to shine this way.
Figuratively, a gleam suggests a flash of emotion or quality: a gleam of hope, a gleam in her eye.
A gleam in someone's eye can also refer humorously to a child not yet conceived.
Emit or reflect light
- glowSteady, soft light
- glintBrief bright reflection
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
flash · twinkle · flicker · radiance · brilliance · luminosity · beam · ray
Reflective viewing surface
- waterClear essential liquid
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
ripple · glint · flash · sparkle · chrome · polished · wet · dew
shine
Emit or reflect light
sparkle · flash · twinkle · flicker · radiance · brilliance · luminosity · beam · ray · glisten
mirror
Reflective viewing surface
shimmer · ripple · glint · flash · sparkle · chrome · polished · wet · dew · ice
polish
Smooth by rubbing
buffed · waxed · lacquered · varnished · sleek · satin · enamel · patina · mirror · chrome
spark
Tiny fiery particle
ray · sign · promise · suggestion · inkling · glimpse · flash · sliver · whisper · possibility
- glowglow, shimmer, radiance, luminescence, incandescence
- light effectsshine, glow, shimmer, glitter, sparkle
- light phenomenarainbow, refraction, diffraction, spectrum, prism
- flashesflash, lightning flash, camera flash, strobe, flash bulb
- sparks & glimmersflicker, flash, glint, shimmer, twinkle
- splendorsplendor, magnificence, grandeur, brilliance, radiance
gleamblaze
Intense burning fire
glare · blinding light · flare · dazzle · brilliance
- gleaming scalesShiny protective body covering