gleam
gb/ɡlˈim/ us/ɡlˈim/
B1
Kiingereza
~ 4400
Maana
maana 0
Nomino
B1
entity
1
A small, bright flash of light
A small or quick light that you can see for a short time.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a gleam of [light/hope]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gleam' with 'beam'. A 'beam' is usually a larger, more directed light, while 'gleam' is small and brief.
Visawe
glimmer (Suggests a weaker or softer light than 'gleam'.)
Vinyume
darkness (The complete absence of light.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
a gleam of light
|a faint gleam
|catch a gleam
Mada
vision
|nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- A gleam of sunlight shone through the clouds.
- She saw the gleam of a flashlight in the distance.
- The knife had a sharp gleam under the kitchen light.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I saw a gleam in the dark.
- The metal had a bright gleam.
- There was a small gleam from the candle.
Kitenzi
B1
action
2
To shine briefly or reflect light
To shine for a short time or to give off small flashes of light.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[something] gleams in/under [light]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may use 'gleam' for continuous strong light; better to use 'shine' in that case.
Visawe
shine ('Shine' is more general and can last longer; 'gleam' suggests briefness or reflection.)
Vinyume
dull (To lose brightness or shine.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
eyes gleam
|floor gleamed
|gleaming surface
Mada
vision
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
- The polished floor gleamed in the sunlight.
- The sword gleamed under the torchlight.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The car gleamed in the sun.
- His shoes gleamed after cleaning.
- The water gleamed in the moonlight.
Nomino
B2
event
3
A quick sign of emotion in eyes/face
A quick look in someone's eyes that shows how they feel.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a gleam of [emotion] in [someone's] eyes
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners might confuse this with the physical light meaning; here it is metaphorical and emotional.
Visawe
sparkle ('Sparkle' can suggest liveliness or cheer, while 'gleam' can carry any emotion.)
Vinyume
blankness (A lack of visible feeling or expression.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
a gleam of joy
|a mischievous gleam
|gleam of anger
Mada
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
- She caught the gleam of pride on his face.
- His eyes held a gleam of hope.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I saw a happy gleam in her eyes.
- He had a strange gleam in his eyes.
- There was a soft gleam of love in her face.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
gleam
IPA
GB/ɡlˈim/
US/ɡlˈim/
Silabi na mkazo
gleam (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (gleam)
Maumbo ya neno
Noun
- Base: gleam
- Plural: gleams
Verb
- Base: gleam
- 3rd Person Singular: gleams
- Present Participle: gleaming
- Past: gleamed
Familia ya neno
Forms
gleams
noun
gleaming
verb
gleamed
verb
Semi
a gleam in someone's eye
1/ə ɡlˈim ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪ/
idiom
An unrealized idea or plan
Something that is only an idea or hope and has not happened yet.
Mifano
- Back then, the project was just a gleam in her eye.
- Twenty years ago, smartphones were just a gleam in designers’ eyes.
gleam of hope
1/ɡlˈim əv hˈoʊp/
fixed phrase
A small sign of possible success
A small sign that something good might happen.
Mifano
- The rescue team’s arrival gave them a gleam of hope.
- Even after the defeat, there was still a gleam of hope for victory.