Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense glints, present participle glinting, past tense, past participle glinted
1. verb
If something glints, it produces or reflects a quick flash of light.
[written]
The sea glinted in the sun. [VERB]
Sunlight glinted on his spectacles. [VERB + on]
...the glinting ripples of water. [VERB-ing]
[Also V + off]
Synonyms: gleam, flash, shine, sparkle More Synonyms of glint
2. countable noun
A glint is a quick flash of light.
[written]
...a glint of silver. [+ of]
...glints of sunlight. [+ of]
Synonyms: gleam, flash, shine, sparkle More Synonyms of glint
3. verb
If someone's eyes glint, they shine and express a particular emotion.
[written]
Her eyes glinted wildly. [VERB]
A mischievous spark glinted in his eyes. [VERB]
4. singular noun
A glint in someone's eyes is a brightness that expresses a particular emotion.
He came up to me with the glint of triumph in his eye.
glint in British English
(ɡlɪnt)
verb
1.
to gleam or cause to gleam brightly
noun
2.
a bright gleam or flash
3.
brightness or gloss
4.
a brief indication
Word origin
C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dialect glänta, glinta to gleam
glint in American English
(glɪnt)
verb intransitive
1.
to shine or reflect with intermittent flashes of light; gleam, flash, or glitter
2. Archaic
to move quickly, esp. glancingly
noun
3.
a gleam, flash, or glitter
Word origin
ME glenten, prob. < Scand, as in Swed dial glänta, akin to MHG glinzen, to glint, Ger glänzen, to shine < IE *ghlendh- < base *ĝhel-, to shine > glow, glass
Examples of 'glint' in a sentence
glint
She said with a steely glint in her eye that she was looking forward to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of a light.
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
The lions and the crown on those blue caps suddenly glint a little brighter.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
No wonder there is usually a glint of steely wariness in their eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And he knows how the glint of silver can leave a permanent sparkle on a club.
The Sun (2010)
The last rays of sun are glinting on a sea as flat as a bowl of olive oil.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We need to picture a bright summer sun glinting off all the gold medals our athletes have won.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was one glint of light.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is personal, chummy yet flashes a glint of steel.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Down at the end of the field there's a sunshine glint on something metal.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And his eyes glint behind his glasses, a magician who has pulled off another spell perfectly.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
What was that, glinting in the sunlight?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But behind the smiles there's also a steely glint of resolve.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
At home, a glint of silver leads to a valuable discovery.
The Sun (2014)
Beneath that warm exterior, she had a steely glint in her eye.
The Sun (2014)
When you see a glint of gold close to your home, it leads to a valuable find.
The Sun (2016)
The stubble fields look bare, with just the sun glinting on the pale stalks that are left.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I see a glint in his eye.
The Sun (2013)
A glint of sunlight on an unexpectedly bright object.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
The glint in his eye when speaking about the company faded, and he seemed to be spending more time at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was just poking out of the ground and I saw it glint in the light.
The Sun (2010)
The mischievous glint has returned to the eye of Freddie Burns.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The production is full of perceptions that glint and flash like the Captain's hook.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
glint
British English: glint VERB
If something glints, it produces or reflects a quick flash of light.