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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more glint comparative, glinted past tense, glints plural, glints singular, most glint superlative

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Test yourself on “glint” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Origin: Middle English

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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