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 modified vehicle will also monitor weather conditions and ambient light to help build a complete picture of the circumstances most likely to lead to headlight glare.

From BBC

Rachael Smith, who works at Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care in Winchester, said: "We see drivers of all age ranges, from 17 right through to older people, and they all complain about glare and discomfort, or being dazzled."

From BBC

The previous week she had travelled to Manchester and said coming home in the dark had been dangerous and "absolutely awful" due to the glare from oncoming vehicles.

From BBC

And glare from ultra-reflective roofs risks heating up nearby darker structures, a 2020 paper suggested.

From BBC

After singing the line “and the rocket’s red glare”, she swore and said: “Can I go back, can I go back please?”

From BBC

Related Words

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