noun
B1
Intermediate
glint
glihnt
Glint (noun) means a brief flash of light, often reflected off something shiny. Example: “There was a glint of metal in the grass — someone had dropped a coin.”
noun
1
A brief flash of light, often reflected off something shiny.
"There was a glint of metal in the grass — someone had dropped a coin."
"A glint of mischief flashed in her eyes."
verb
1
To flash or gleam briefly.
"The knife glinted in the moonlight."
How to use glint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick, sharp flash of reflected light, or a similarly sharp look in someone's eyes.
Common pairings
a glint in his eye
glint of sunlight
metallic glint
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Word forms
- Plural
- glints
- Third person singular
- glints
- Past tense
- glinted
- Comparative
- more glint
- Superlative
- most glint
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ of metal in the grass — someone had dropped a coin.
Etymology
Borrowed from Scots glint, from Middle English glenten, "to shine or flash," and reintroduced into wider literary English by the poet Robert Burns.
Related words
Rhymes for glint
See all rhymes for glint →Frequently asked questions
What does “glint” mean?
The word “glint” means a brief flash of light, often reflected off something shiny. In plain terms, a quick, sharp flash of reflected light, or a similarly sharp look in someone's eyes.
How do you pronounce “glint”?
“Glint” is pronounced glihnt (/ɡlɪnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “glint” in a sentence?
Here is “glint” used in a sentence: “There was a glint of metal in the grass — someone had dropped a coin.”
What part of speech is “glint”?
Depending on how it is used, “glint” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “glint” come from?
The word “glint” comes from Middle English. Borrowed from Scots glint, from Middle English glenten, "to shine or flash," and reintroduced into wider literary English by the poet Robert Burns.
How many meanings does “glint” have?
“Glint” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a brief flash of light, often reflected off something shiny.
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