I. ˈglēm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English glem, gleem, from Old English glǣm; akin to Old High German gleimo glowworm, Old Norse gljā to glitter, Greek chliein to luxuriate, Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow
1.
a. obsolete : a brilliantly bright radiance of light (as of the sun) : dazzling splendor
b. : a transient appearance or occurrence of emitted or reflected light that is subdued (as when seen through darkness or water or some other intervening medium or as when seen at a distance)
through the swirling fog they glimpsed the gleam of the white sand beach
the silvery gleam of trout in the brook
the gleam of the far-off lanterns
or that is slowly changing (as from faintness to greater intensity)
the gleam of dawn in the east
or that has a merely relative brightness (as by contrast with a dark background)
the gleam of many lights reflected in the dark waters of the river
: a transient brightness
she read the closely written sheets by the last gleam of daylight — Ellen Glasgow
or a shifting play of subdued diffused reflected light
the rich gleam of the polished mahogany
c.
(1) : a small bright light
the quick gleam of a match
: a pinpoint of light : glint
the gleam of anticipation in his eye
(2) : a small beam or flash of emitted or reflected light
a gleam of sunlight fell on the page he was reading
the gleam of helmets in the sun
2. : a brief or faint appearance, occurrence, or manifestation (as of a quality)
a gleam of hope
the gleam of gratitude in the eyes of an old man — H.M.Lydenberg
a gleam of understanding in the prisoner's face — C.S.Forester
: a faint trace
there are perhaps gleams of truth in it here and there — G.B.Shaw
a gleam of resemblance between the two
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English glemen, from glem, gleem, n.
intransitive verb
1. : to shine with subdued emitted or reflected light
the sun gleamed on the water — Robert Keable
the firelight is gleaming and flashing from the polished brass — Osbert Lancaster
: send out gleams
a light gleamed through the chinks in the wall — Charles Dickens
: become lighted up with gleams
his eye gleaming at the sight of the two women — Louis Bromfield
2. : to appear briefly, faintly, or transiently
amusement gleamed swiftly at her from the boy's eyes — Harriet La Barre
a light gleamed suddenly in the night
transitive verb
: to cause to gleam : emit or reflect by gleaming
his monocle gleamed polite hostility — Christopher Isherwood