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
   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

This activity card shows users new, relevant listings that have been posted since the user last searched for a particular job, making it easier for jobseekers to tell whether new listings are available at a glance.

From Search Engine Land

That’s a smart suggestion, and something I wish I’d thought to look at, although after taking a very brief glance at it now, I’m not sure how much it would have mattered.

From FiveThirtyEight

Profile attributes appear in your GMB listing, local Knowledge Panel and the local 3-pack, and make details about how your business is operating available at a glance.

From Search Engine Land

The best way to absorb that data is a quick glance at a chart or graph.

From Science News

Still, you may one day pass a big rig and, with a startled glance into the cab, notice no one’s at the wheel.

From Singularity Hub 

The two major complaints minority communities have against the police seem at first glance paradoxical.

From The Daily Beast

In Greek mythology, the Gorgon Medusa had the face of a woman and poisonous snakes for hair; her glance could turn men to stone.

From The Daily Beast

At first glance, it might be tempting to interpret this extravagant level of compensation as a victory for the once-humble intern.

From The Daily Beast

It only takes one glance of Alton's Ebola Survival Handbook to recognize the real threat: him.

From The Daily Beast

He was very sincere and nice, but I saw him glance at the pink moustache across my lip.

From The Daily Beast

Madame de Condillac stood watching him, her face composed, her glance cold.

From Project Gutenberg

At Felipe's cry, the women waiting in the hall hurried in, wailing aloud as their first glance showed them all was over.

From Project Gutenberg

Her glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf, whose sonorous murmur reached her like a loving but imperative entreaty.

From Project Gutenberg

She glanced up at him softly, under long lashes,—a thrilling glance; but he missed its radiance, for his own eyes were far away.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly he shot a disturbing glance at Tressan's face, and the corner of his wild-cat mustachios twitched.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• glimpse
• peek