Definition of "glimpse" in English

verb

1. To see or view (someone, or something tangible) briefly and incompletely.

2. To perceive (something intangible) briefly and incompletely.

   • I have only begun to glimpse the magnitude of the problem.

3. Chiefly followed by at or upon: to look at briefly and incompletely; to glance.

4. To shine with a faint, unsteady light; to glimmer, to shimmer.

5. To appear or start to appear, especially faintly or unclearly; to dawn.

6. Sometimes followed by out: to provide a brief and incomplete look.

noun

1. Chiefly followed by of: a brief and incomplete look.

   • I only got a glimpse of the car, so I can tell you the colour but not the registration number.

2. (archaic) A brief, sudden flash of light; a glimmer.

3. A faint or imprecise idea; an inkling.

4. A brief, unspecified amount of time; a moment.

5. (obsolete) A faint (and often temporary) appearance; a tinge.