Definition of "gleam" in English

noun

1. (countable) An appearance of light, especially one which is indistinct or small, or short-lived.

2. An indistinct sign of something; a glimpse or hint.

   • The rescue workers preserved a gleam of optimism that the trapped miners might still survive.

3. A bright, but intermittent or short-lived, appearance of something.

4. A look of joy or liveliness on one's face.

5. Sometimes as hot gleam: a warm ray of sunlight; also, a period of warm weather, for instance, between showers of rain.

6. Brightness or shininess; radiance, splendour.

verb

1. (transitive) Chiefly in conjunction with an adverb: to cause (light) to shine.

2. To shine, especially in an indistinct or intermittent manner; to glisten, to glitter.

3. To be strongly but briefly apparent.

verb

1. (intransitive, falconry, obsolete) Of a hawk or other bird of prey: to disgorge filth from its crop or gorge.