glance

¹

[ glans, glahns ]

verb (used without object)

, glanced, glanc·ing.

1. to look quickly or briefly.
2. to gleam or flash:

   a silver brooch glancing in the sunlight.

   Synonyms: scintillate, glisten

3. to strike a surface or object obliquely, especially so as to bounce off at an angle (often followed by off ):

   The arrow glanced off his shield.

   Synonyms: ricochet, reflect

4. to allude briefly to a topic or subject in passing (usually followed by at ).

verb (used with object)

, Archaic.

, glanced, glanc·ing.

1. to cast a glance or brief look at; catch a glimpse of.
2. to cast or reflect, as a gleam.
3. to throw, hit, kick, shoot, etc. (something) so that it glances off a surface or object.

noun

1. a quick or brief look.
2. a gleam or flash of light, especially reflected light.

   Synonyms: glitter

3. a deflected movement or course; an oblique rebound.
4. Digital Technology. information on an electronic screen that can be understood quickly or at a glance:

   Get news and weather glances on your phone.

   Tap anywhere on a glance to open the app.

5. Cricket. a stroke in which the batsman deflects the ball with the bat, as to leg.
6. Archaic. a passing reference or allusion; insinuation.

glance

²

[ glans, glahns ]

noun

1. any of various minerals having a luster that indicates a metallic nature.

glance

¹

/ ɡlɑːns /

noun

1. any mineral having a metallic lustre, esp a simple sulphide

   copper glance

glance

²

/ ɡlɑːns /

verb

1. intr to look hastily or briefly
2. intr; foll by over, through, etc to look over briefly

   to glance through a report

3. intr to reflect, glint, or gleam

   the sun glanced on the water

4. intrusually foll byoff to depart (from an object struck) at an oblique angle

   the arrow glanced off the tree

5. tr to strike at an oblique angle

   the arrow glanced the tree

noun

1. a hasty or brief look; peep
2. at a glance
   from one's first look; immediately
3. a flash or glint of light; gleam
4. the act or an instance of an object glancing or glancing off another
5. a brief allusion or reference
6. cricket a stroke in which the ball is deflected off the bat to the leg side; glide

Usage

Glance is sometimes wrongly used where glimpse is meant: he caught a glimpse (not glance ) of her making her way through the crowd

Derived Forms

• ˈglancingly, adverb
• ˈglancing, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of glance¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English verb glenchen, glansen, variant (perhaps influenced by obsolete glent “to shine”) of Middle English glacen “to strike a glancing blow,” from Old French glacier “to slip, slide,” from Latin glaciāre “to freeze”; glacé, glint

Origin of glance²

First recorded in 1795–1805; from German Glanz “brightness, luster”

Word History and Origins

Origin of glance¹

C19: from German Glanz brightness, lustre

Origin of glance²

C15: modification of glacen to strike obliquely, from Old French glacier to slide (see glacis ); compare Middle English glenten to make a rapid sideways movement, glint

Idioms and Phrases

see at first blush (glance) .

Synonym Study

See flash.

Example Sentences

Anyone who has explored London beyond its tourist hubs, or has at least glanced at the pages of a Zadie Smith novel, knows that multiculturalism gives the city its life.

From New York Times

Named after the original Dutch settlement on Manhattan where it stands, The Noortwyck offers a “timeless, New American” menu — a focus that’s evident at first glance.

From Salon

But two decades later, the fact remains that on meeting Timmy, certainly at first glance, many find him outrageously offensive.

From BBC

But, glancing out a window, she was met with a terrifying sight — giant flames leaping from structures just one street away as the wind swept smoke up the hill and toward her house.

From Los Angeles Times

"At a glance, in the battleground states, polls ran a little hot for Harris but really not so bad, but when you dig deeper, it's all a little less impressive," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• glimpse
• peek