Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, bright flash of reflected light: A sparkle is a brief, shining point of light, often caused by light reflecting off a surface.
   • A small flash or spark: A sparkle can be a tiny, brief burst of fire or electricity.
   • Liveliness or brightness expressed in someone's eyes or manner: Sparkle refers to a quality of animated excitement, joy, or intelligence that shows in a person's expression.

2. Verb:

   • To shine with small, bright points of reflected light: To sparkle means to emit or reflect many small, bright flashes.
   • To be lively, brilliant, or witty: To sparkle means to be full of energy, intelligence, or charm.
   • To produce or emit sparks: To sparkle can mean to give off small fiery or electrical particles.
   • To become bubbly or fizzy: To sparkle can mean to produce or be full of small bubbles, like a carbonated drink.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The sparkle of the diamonds was breathtaking. (The quality of shining light from the diamonds was breathtaking.)
  • We saw a sparkle of light from the distant lighthouse. (We saw a small flash of light.)
  • She told the story with a sparkle in her eyes. (She told the story with lively excitement in her eyes.)

• Verb:

  • The stars sparkle in the clear night sky. (The stars shine with bright, twinkling points of light.)
  • Her wit sparkled throughout the conversation. (Her cleverness was lively and brilliant during the conversation.)
  • The fallen power line continued to sparkle dangerously. (The fallen power line continued to produce electrical sparks.)
  • The freshly poured soda began to sparkle. (The soda began to bubble and fizz.)

Advanced Usage

• "To add sparkle to something": To make something more lively, interesting, or attractive.
  • A few jokes can add sparkle to a formal speech.
• "A sparkle of [emotion/quality]": A small, noticeable show of a particular feeling or trait.
  • He answered with a sparkle of mischief in his voice.

Variants and Related Words

• Sparkling (adjective): Shining with bright points of light; lively and witty; fizzy with bubbles.
  • sparkling wine, a sparkling personality, sparkling eyes
• Sparkler (noun): A handheld firework that emits sparks; a diamond or other glittering jewel.

Synonyms

• Noun: Glitter, twinkle, gleam, glint, brilliance, liveliness.
• Verb: Glitter, twinkle, glint, gleam, shine, scintillate, fizz, bubble.

Related Phrases

• Sparkle with [something]: To show a lot of a particular quality, especially in the eyes.
  • Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
• Lose its sparkle: To become less exciting, attractive, or lively.
  • After many years, the routine began to lose its sparkle.

Related Idioms

• The sparkle has gone out of [something/someone's eyes]: Something or someone is no longer lively, happy, or enthusiastic.
  • After the bad news, the sparkle seemed to go out of her.

Noun

1. the quality of shining with a bright reflected light
2. the occurrence of a small flash or spark
3. merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance
   • he had a sparkle in his eye
   • there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes

Verb

1. become bubbly or frothy or foaming
   • The boiling soup was frothing
   • The river was foaming
   • Sparkling water
2. emit or produce sparks
   • A high tension wire, brought down by a storm, can continue to spark
3. be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity
   • The musical performance sparkled
   • A scintillating conversation
   • his playing coruscated throughout the concert hall
4. reflect brightly
   • Unquarried marble sparkled on the hillside