lambent

American  

[lam-buhnt] / ˈlæm bənt /

adjective

1. softly bright or radiant.

   a lambent light.

2. running or moving lightly over a surface.

   lambent tongues of flame.

3. dealing lightly and gracefully with a subject; brilliantly playful.

   lambent wit.

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lambent British  

/ ˈlæmbənt /

adjective

1. (esp of a flame) flickering softly over a surface

2. glowing with soft radiance

3. (of wit or humour) light or brilliant

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Other Word Forms

• lambency noun
• lambently adverb

Etymology

Origin of lambent

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin lambent- (stem of lambēns ) “lapping,” present participle of lambere “to lick, wash” (said of water or fire); akin to lap ³ ; see -ent

Explanation

Lambent is a word describing a type of light that is subdued or soft. A lambent glow is not a bright, blinding light. Lambent comes from a Latin word meaning "lick," and that fact may help you remember the word: lambent lights or flames aren't solid or powerful. The light is flickering — almost like the licking of a snake's tongue. Lambent light flickers or shines softly. It's not a powerful or overwhelming light. A candle in a dark room is a great example of a lambent light. Lambent light is better for setting a mood than lighting up a room brightly.

Example Sentences

Half a century has passed since humans set foot on the moon, but the lunar rocks that they gathered are still revealing important information about Earth’s lambent neighbor.

From National Geographic • Oct. 23, 2023

I ran my hands over buttery silk button-downs in deep purple and lambent teal during a Tom Ford for Gucci capsule collection, and slipped into a cream column dress with a cutout at the hip.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2023

Unfolding over the span of just a few days, “Song Lang” renders the two men’s brief encounter, heavy with unspoken longing and connection, against a lambent backdrop of golden-green light and swirling dust.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2022

The keypad is laser-etched out of a sheet of shimmering aluminum, and when pressed, ignites in a lambent blue glow that looked like the sci-fi future.

From The Verge • Dec. 29, 2021

A lonely, lambent woman looking out at her embittered aunt’s ornamental garden, listening to a tangerine.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy