/ gliːm; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] to shine with a pale clear light :
The moonlight gleamed on the water.
Her eyes gleamed in the dark.
➡ note at shine
2.
gleam (with sth) to look very clean or bright :
[ v ]
The house was gleaming with fresh white paint.
[ v - adj ]
Her teeth gleamed white against the tanned skin of her face.
3.
[ v ] gleam (with / in sth) if a person's eyes gleam with a particular emotion, or an emotion gleams in a person's eyes, the person shows that emotion :
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
Amusement gleamed in his eyes.
■ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
a pale clear light, often reflected from sth :
the gleam of moonlight on the water
A few gleams of sunshine lit up the gloomy afternoon.
I saw the gleam of the knife as it flashed through the air.
2.
a small amount of sth :
a faint gleam of hope
a serious book with an occasional gleam of humour
3.
an expression of a particular feeling or emotion that shows in sb's eyes
SYN glint :
a gleam of triumph in her eyes
a mischievous gleam in his eye
The gleam in his eye made her uncomfortable (= as if he was planning sth secret or unpleasant) .
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English glǣm brilliant light , of Germanic origin.