agleam
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: * Shining brightly, especially with a soft or subdued light: Describes something that is bright and gleaming, but often with a steady, gentle, or polished quality rather than a harsh or flashing one.
Usage
The word "agleam" is a descriptive adjective, often used in literary or evocative contexts to paint a vivid picture. It typically describes surfaces that reflect light in a clean, bright, and attractive way. It can be used predictively (after a linking verb like was or lay) or attributively (before a noun).
Examples
- The freshly waxed car sat in the sun, its surface agleam.
- After the rain, every leaf in the garden was agleam with droplets.
- She polished the old silver until it was agleam.
- The knight's armor was agleam in the torchlight.
- The table was set with china and crystal, all agleam under the chandelier.
Advanced Usage
- "Agleam with [something]": A common construction to specify the source or cause of the gleaming.
- The kitchen was agleam with polished copper pots.
- His eyes were agleam with mischief.
Variants and Related Words
- Gleam (verb/noun): The root word. As a verb: to shine brightly. As a noun: a brief or subdued flash of light.
- A light gleamed in the distance. (verb)
- He saw a gleam of hope. (noun)
- Gleaming (adjective/gerund): Shining brightly; the act of shining brightly.
- She handed him a gleaming trophy.
Synonyms
- Shining: Emitting or reflecting light.
- Glistening: Shining with a sparkling light, often from being wet.
- Glinting: Giving out or reflecting small flashes of light.
- Polished: Made smooth and shiny by rubbing.
- Lustrous: Having a soft, radiant shine.
Antonyms
- Dull: Lacking brightness or shine.
- Tarnished: Lost its luster, especially metal.
- Matte: Having a dull, non-reflective surface.
- Dim: Not bright or clear.
Adjective
- bright with a steady but subdued shining
- from the plane we saw the city below agleam with lights
- the gleaming brass on the altar
- Nereids beneath the nitid moon