Library / English Dictionary

SPARKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of shining with a bright reflected light

Synonyms:

glisten; glister; glitter; scintillation; sparkle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("sparkle" is a kind of...):

brightness (the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white)

Derivation:

sparkle (reflect brightly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance

Example:

there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes

Synonyms:

light; spark; sparkle; twinkle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("sparkle" is a kind of...):

verve; vitality (an energetic style)

aspect; expression; face; facial expression; look (the feelings expressed on a person's face)

Derivation:

sparkle (be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity)

sparkly (marked by high spirits or excitement)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The occurrence of a small flash or spark

Synonyms:

coruscation; glitter; sparkle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("sparkle" is a kind of...):

flash (a sudden intense burst of radiant energy)

Derivation:

sparkle (reflect brightly)

sparkle (emit or produce sparks)

sparkly (having brief brilliant points or flashes of light)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity

Example:

his playing coruscated throughout the concert hall

Synonyms:

coruscate; scintillate; sparkle

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "sparkle" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

sparkle (merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become bubbly or frothy or foaming

Example:

sparkling water

Synonyms:

effervesce; fizz; foam; form bubbles; froth; sparkle

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "sparkle" is one way to...):

bubble (form, produce, or emit bubbles)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sparkle"):

lather (form a lather)

seethe (foam as if boiling)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reflect brightly

Example:

Unquarried marble sparkled on the hillside

Synonyms:

coruscate; scintillate; sparkle

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Hypernyms (to "sparkle" is one way to...):

reflect; shine (be bright by reflecting or casting light)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence examples:

Lights sparkle on the horizon

The horizon is sparkleing with lights

Derivation:

sparkle (the quality of shining with a bright reflected light)

sparkle (the occurrence of a small flash or spark)

sparkler (diamonds)

sparkling (a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Emit or produce sparks

Example:

A high tension wire, brought down by a storm, can continue to spark

Synonyms:

spark; sparkle

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Hypernyms (to "sparkle" is one way to...):

emit; give off; give out (give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

sparkle (the occurrence of a small flash or spark)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He shook hands eagerly with Sherlock Holmes, and his dark eyes sparkled with pleasure when he understood that the specialist was anxious to hear his story.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Just see how it glints and sparkles.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His honest eyes fire up, and sparkle, as if their depths were stirred by something bright.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I seek not gaiety nor mirth, not the bright voluptuousness of much sunshine and sparkling waters which please the young and gay.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

His lady greeted him with some of her sparkling vivacity.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she granted his request, and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went with him to the set, may be easily imagined.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

There was a smile on his lips, and his eyes sparkled, whether with wine or not, I am not sure; but I think it very probable.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A thick mist was in them, intershot with sparkling points of light.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

As I spoke, rage sparkled in my eyes; the magistrate was intimidated.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Miss Bertram did indeed look happy, her eyes were sparkling with pleasure, and she was speaking with great animation, for Julia and her partner, Mr. Crawford, were close to her; they were all in a cluster together.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)