I. ˈglint verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English glinten, alteration of glenten — more at glent
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to move rapidly and usually obliquely ; specifically : to glance off an object struck
the majority of the shells struck armor and simply glinted off — W.A.M.Goode
b. of rays of light : to strike a reflecting surface obliquely and dart out at an angle
light gleaming and sparkling on the sea … glinting from the sand — J.L.Lowes
2.
a. : to shine usually by reflection:
(1) : to shine with tiny bright flashes : sparkle
the slightly ruffled surface of the lake was glinting brilliantly in the morning sunlight
little tin cups that glint like bright money — Lillian Smith
you can see the rocks and pebbles glinting under the shimmering veil of water — William Goyen
(2) : to shine with a hard bright metallic luster of scattered light : glitter
eyes glinting with anger
sunlight glinted on the vicious edges of the bottle fragments — Harriet La Barre
(3) : to shine with a subdued scattered light : gleam
moonlight glinted on the brass bed — Sloane Wilson
b. : to emit scattered rays of light
held a magnifying glass over my hand and let the sun glint through — Charles Spielberger
3. : to look quickly or briefly : peep
4. : to appear briefly, faintly, or transiently
across the river the village … glinted through the palms — H.O.Forbes
transitive verb
: to cause to glint : reflect in tiny flashes or gleams
the dark surface of the water caught the lights of the boat and glinted them brightly back
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a.
(1) : a tiny bright usually reflected flash of light : sparkle
watched the twin glints of his eyeglasses
(2) : a hard bright metallic point of light
the singularly venomous glint in her eye — Ngaio Marsh
(3) : a small point of subdued light : gleam
glints of ruddy light playing over the polished dark mahogany
b. : a ray of scattered light
the little room was dusky, save for a narrow glint streaming through the not quite closed door of the room — Charles Dickens
c.
(1) : a shining appearance produced by tiny bright scattered flashes : sparkling brightness
the glint of unshed tears blurring the clear bright blue of his eyes — Marcia Davenport
the glint of spring and autumn sunlight — Donn Byrne
(2) : a glittering metallic luster
his bright eyes burning with a sharp wild glint of madness — Thomas Wolfe
(3) : a subdued radiance : gleaming
the glint of moonlight through the leaves
2. archaic : glance , glimpse
3. : a brief, faint, or transient appearance or manifestation (as of a quality)
thought I detected a glint of recognition in her expression