glare

¹

[ glair ]

noun

1. a very harsh, bright, dazzling light:

   in the glare of sunlight.

   Synonyms: flash, glitter, flare

2. a fiercely or angrily piercing stare.
3. dazzling or showy appearance; showiness.

verb (used without object)

, glared, glar·ing.

1. to shine with or reflect a very harsh, bright, dazzling light.
2. to stare with a fiercely or angrily piercing look.
3. Archaic. to appear conspicuous; stand out obtrusively.

verb (used with object)

, glared, glar·ing.

1. to express with a glare:

   They glared their anger at each other.

glare

²

[ glair ]

noun

1. a bright, smooth surface, as of ice.

glare

¹

/ ɡlɛə /

verb

1. intr to stare angrily; glower
2. tr to express by glowering
3. intr (of light, colour, etc) to be very bright and intense
4. intr to be dazzlingly ornamented or garish

noun

1. an angry stare
2. a dazzling light or brilliance
3. garish ornamentation or appearance; gaudiness

glare

²

/ ɡlɛə /

adjective

1. smooth and glassy

   glare ice

Derived Forms

• ˈglareless, adjective
• ˈglary, adjective

Other Words From

• glareless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glare¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English glaren; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German glaren; akin to glass (compare Old English glæren “glassy”); noun derivative of the verb

Origin of glare²

First recorded in 1560–70; special use of glare ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of glare¹

C13: probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch glaren to gleam; probably related to Old English glæren glassy; see glass

Origin of glare²

C16: special use of glare ¹

Synonym Study

See shine ¹. Glare, glower, gloat all have connotations of emotion that accompany an intense gaze. To glare is to look piercingly or angrily: A tiger glares at its prey. To glower is to look fiercely and threateningly, as from wrath; it suggests a scowl along with a glare: to glower at a mischievous child. To gloat meant originally to look with exultation, avaricious or malignant, on something or someone: a tyrant gloating over the helplessness of his victim. Today, however, it may simply imply inner exultation.

Example Sentences

The film’s version of “Dancing Through Life” is so backlit that it’s hard to make out characters beyond a blinding white glare, an offense second only to the way Elphaba is filmed in low light.

From Salon

She has waived her right to anonymity so the entire trial can be heard in court in Avignon in the full glare of publicity.

From BBC

These glaring differences aside, Trump does seem to admire Xi’s strongman image.

From BBC

Every chapter of this case has played out in the full glare of publicity because Ms Pelicot has waived her anonymity, making the whole trial open to the media and the public.

From BBC

Those are individual moments, perhaps the most glaring ones.

From BBC

Related Words

• frown
• gape
• gawk
• glower
• scowl
• stare