Dictionary

glimmer en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈɡlɪməː] (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɡlɪməː/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈɡlɪmɚ/ (General-American)
• [ˈɡlɪmɚ] ~ [ˈɡlɪmɹ̩] (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English glimeren, glemeren (“to glimmer”), equivalent to glim (“to shine”) + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with German Low German glimmern (“to glimmer”), German glimmern (“to glimmer”), Danish glimre (“to glimmer”), Swedish glimra (“to glimmer”). Doublet of glimpse. Sense 5 was coined in the 2020s in analogy to trigger.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A faint light; a dim glow.
   • The glimmer of the fireflies was pleasant to watch.
2. (countable, uncountable) A flash of light.
3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A faint or remote possibility (as it were a flash of light).
   • After all, Harmony Korine has no more than a glimmer of talent. 1997, David Denby, “Clawless”, in New York Magazine, volume 30, number 42, page 52:
4. (dated, uncountable) Mica.
5. (countable, neologism, uncountable) A subtle, positive micromoment that evokes feelings of joy, safety, calm, or connection.

Forms

Antonyms

trigger

Coordinates

bloomscrolling · hopecore

Deriveds

glimmer-gowk · flimmer · glimmer of hope

Synonyms

shimmer · glimpse · flicker · sparkle · comfort · flicker

Translations (45)

ka ციმციმი (faint light) · bg проблясък (flash of light) · ka ციალი (faint light) · it barlume (faint or remote possibility) · ckb تروسکە (flash of light) · fi kipinä (faint or remote possibility) · ka გაელვება (faint light) · ka ბჟუტვა (faint light) · ka კამკამი (faint light) · is skíma (faint light) · pt vislumbre (faint light) · pt vislumbre (faint or remote possibility) · fr lueur (faint light) · sc lughighedda (faint light) · sc lampaluxi (faint light) · fi pilke (faint light) · es titileo (faint light) · no glimt (flash of light) · no anelse (faint or remote possibility) · no skimmer (faint light) · bg мъждукане (faint light) · ru искорка (faint or remote possibility) · fi väre (faint or remote possibility) · es luz tenue (faint light) · fi valonpilkahdus (faint or remote possibility) · ka კიაფი (faint light) · ru капля (faint or remote possibility) · ka კრთომა (faint light) · fi valonpilkahdus (flash of light) · pt clarão (flash of light) · no glimt (faint or remote possibility) · ga léaró (flash of light) · ru проблеск (faint or remote possibility) · uk мерехті́ння (faint light) · ru мерца́ние (faint light) · it barlume (faint light) · sdc luzaredda (faint light) · sdn lucintura (faint light) · mi hīnātore (faint light) · it filo (faint light) · fr lueur (faint or remote possibility) · ka გამოკრთომა (faint light) · fi tuike (faint light) · ka კვესა (faint light) · de Schimmer (faint light)

glimmer en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈɡlɪməː] (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɡlɪməː/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈɡlɪmɚ/ (General-American)
• [ˈɡlɪmɚ] ~ [ˈɡlɪmɹ̩] (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English glimeren, glemeren (“to glimmer”), equivalent to glim (“to shine”) + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with German Low German glimmern (“to glimmer”), German glimmern (“to glimmer”), Danish glimre (“to glimmer”), Swedish glimra (“to glimmer”). Doublet of glimpse. Sense 5 was coined in the 2020s in analogy to trigger.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To shine with a faint, unsteady light.
   • The fireflies glimmered in the dark.
   • the glimmering dawn    a glimmering lamp
   • The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:

Forms

Deriveds

glimmery · glimmerite · aglimmer · glimmersome

Synonyms

sparkle · gleam · shimmer · shine · coruscate · luster · glisten · glimpse · twinkle · flicker · sheen · glitter · flash · shimmer

Translations (34)

pt vislumbrar (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · hy առկայծել (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · hi टिमटिमाना (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka იელვებს (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ro scânteia (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka ციალებს (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · sv glittra (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · no skimre (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka კრთის (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka კამკამებს (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · es cintilar (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · es escintilar (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · mi tīramarama (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka კიაფობს (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · fi tuikkia (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ur ٹمٹمانا (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka კრთება (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · bg мъждукам (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · sv glimma (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · fr émettre une lueur (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · de glimmern (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · izh kuumattaa (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · no glimte (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · es centellear (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · no blinke (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · sv glänsa (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · fi kajastaa (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · sv glimra (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka ციმციმებს (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · eo glimi (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ka ბჟუტავს (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · es centellar (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · sv skina (to shine with a faint, unsteady light) · ru мерца́ть (to shine with a faint, unsteady light)