Glister: meaning, definitions and examples

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glister

 

[ˈɡlɪstər ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

shine brightly

To glister means to shine with a sparkling or shimmering light. This verb often describes the way light reflects off surfaces, creating a glimmering effect.

Synonyms

glimmer, shine, sparkle.

Examples of usage

  • The stars glistered in the night sky.
  • The dew on the grass glistered in the morning sun.
  • She admired how the jewel glistered in the light.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'glister' has its roots in Old English, coming from 'glistern', which means to shine or sparkle.
  • Related to the word 'glisten', which evolved from the Middle English form 'glistnen'.
  • Historically, it has been used in poetry and literature to evoke images of light and beauty.

Literature

  • Famous works like Shakespeare's plays employed the term to convey beauty and brilliance.
  • In fantasy literature, characters often describe magical artifacts as glistering, enhancing their allure.
  • The word appears in various poems, illustrating themes of nature and light.

Cultural Significance

  • In some cultures, a glistering surface can symbolize purity and divinity, often depicted in religious art.
  • Festivals around the world celebrate light and glistening natural phenomena, like fireflies in summer.
  • Glistering elements can symbolize hope and inspiration in art and storytelling, representing aspirations.

Scientific Aspect

  • Light reflection on surfaces causes glistering, relating to physics concepts like refraction and reflection.
  • Certain minerals and gemstones exhibit a natural glister due to their crystalline structure, used in jewelry.
  • The phenomenon of glistering can also be observed in nature, such as dew on grass or sun on water.

Pop Culture

  • The term glister is often used in songs and movies when describing dazzling moments, enhancing the scene's emotion.
  • In fashion, fabrics that glister under lights are popular in evening wear, conveying glamour and elegance.
  • Characters in animated films often glister when they use their magic, signifying power or transformation.

Translations

Translations of the word "glister" in other languages:

🇵🇹 brilhar

🇮🇳 चमकना

🇩🇪 glitzern

🇮🇩 berkilau

🇺🇦 світитися

🇵🇱 lśnić

🇯🇵 きらめく

🇫🇷 scintiller

🇪🇸 brillar

🇹🇷 parlamak

🇰🇷 반짝이다

🇸🇦 يضيء

🇨🇿 zářit

🇸🇰 žiariť

🇨🇳 闪闪发光

🇸🇮 svetleti

🇮🇸 glitra

🇰🇿 жарқырау

🇬🇪 ბრწყინვალება

🇦🇿 parıldamaq

🇲🇽 brillar

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,945, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.