sparkle

American  

[spahr-kuhl] / ˈspɑr kəl /

verb (used without object)

sparkled, sparkling

1. to issue in or as if in little sparks, as fire or light.

   The candlelight sparkled in the crystal.

2. to emit little sparks, as burning matter.

   The flames leaped and sparkled.

3. to shine or glisten with little gleams of light, as a brilliant gem; glitter; coruscate.

4. to effervesce, as wine.

5. to be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.

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verb (used with object)

sparkled, sparkling

1. to cause to sparkle.

   moonlight sparkling the water;

   pleasure sparkling her eyes.

noun

1. a little spark or fiery particle.

2. a sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light.

   the sparkle of a diamond.

   Synonyms:

   glitter

3. brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.

sparkle British  

/ ˈspɑːkəl /

verb

1. to issue or reflect or cause to issue or reflect bright points of light

2. (intr) (of wine, mineral water, etc) to effervesce

3. (intr) to be vivacious or witty

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noun

1. a point of light, spark, or gleam

2. vivacity or wit

Related Words

See glisten.

Other Word Forms

• nonsparkling adjective
• outsparkle verb (used with object)
• unsparkling adjective

Etymology

Origin of sparkle

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun and verb); spark ¹, -le

Related Words

• flicker
• gleam
• glimmer
• glint
• glisten
• glow
• scintillate
• shimmer
• twinkle
• wink