gleaming
gleaming — adjective
1. looking very clean and reflecting light, often because something has just been p
looking very clean and reflecting light, often because something has just been polished, washed, or scrubbed.
Mira's kitchen counters were gleaming after she scrubbed them with lemon and vinegar.
attributive use describing a cleaned surface
The waiter brought out gleaming silver forks and knives wrapped in cloth napkins.
premodifier in noun phrase: gleaming + plural noun
A row of gleaming red fire trucks waited outside the station for the parade.
Tunde polished his shoes until they were gleaming in the morning sunlight.
The hotel lobby had gleaming marble floors and tall glass windows.
文法句型
gleaming + noun
be gleaming
用法筆記
Almost always attached to hard surfaces or objects that have been cleaned or polished — metal, glass, tile, painted bodywork, teeth. Rarely used of soft or matte things (clothes, paper, skin).
常見錯誤
gleaming — verb
1. to give off a soft, steady light, usually by reflecting another source like the
to give off a soft, steady light, usually by reflecting another source like the sun, the moon, or a lamp.
The lake gleamed in the late afternoon sun as Renata paddled the canoe slowly.
gleam + in + light source
A row of brass buttons gleamed on the captain's dark blue coat.
common subject: small polished metal objects
Wet roof tiles gleamed under the street lamps after the heavy rain stopped.
Stephanie's wedding ring gleamed every time she moved her hand across the table.
- dim
verb: become less bright; opposite of giving off light
文法句型
something gleams
gleam + with/in + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually a polished, wet, or metallic surface, and the light is reflected rather than produced by the object itself. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about a quick or brief appearance rather than steady reflection.
常見錯誤
2. to appear for a short moment, usually in someone's eyes or face, showing a feeli
to appear for a short moment, usually in someone's eyes or face, showing a feeling such as amusement, anger, or sudden interest.
A flash of amusement gleamed in Eve's eyes when she heard the silly joke.
typical: emotion + gleam + in someone's eyes
Curiosity gleamed on Darius's face as the magician opened the locked box.
gleam on someone's face — feeling shown briefly
Anger gleamed briefly in the coach's expression before he turned back to the players.
Hope gleamed in Xiu's voice as she described her plan for the new bakery.
文法句型
something gleams in someone's eyes
X gleamed briefly
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract feeling (amusement, curiosity, anger, hope) and the location is in someone's eyes, on their face, or in their voice. Distinguish from sense 1, where the subject is a physical surface reflecting actual light.
常見錯誤
3. in formal or literary writing, to cause an object to give off a soft, steady lig
in formal or literary writing, to cause an object to give off a soft, steady light, usually by polishing it or directing light onto it.
The setting sun gleamed the bronze statue at the centre of the old town square.
transitive: light source gleams the object
Sana gleamed the silver candlesticks with a soft cloth before the family dinner began.
transitive: agent + gleam + polished object
Stage lights gleamed the brass instruments as the orchestra took its final bow.
Lien gleamed the kitchen tiles until each square reflected the ceiling lamp clearly.
- tarnish
verb: make metal lose its shine over time
文法句型
gleam + object
用法筆記
This transitive use is uncommon in everyday English and mostly appears in older or literary writing. In modern speech, learners should prefer 'polish', 'shine up', or 'make X gleam' instead. Distinguish from sense 1, which is intransitive and far more frequent.
常見錯誤
gleaming — noun
1. a short, soft burst of light, often a reflection from a surface or a small expre
a short, soft burst of light, often a reflection from a surface or a small expression of feeling that shows briefly in someone's eyes or face.
Hui saw a gleam of moonlight on the river as the small boat drifted past the bridge.
a gleam of + noun (light source)
There was a faint gleam of hope in Christopher's voice when the doctor finished speaking.
figurative: gleam of hope/interest as a brief sign of feeling
A sudden gleam of headlights on the wet road told Lucas a car was turning the corner.
Nia noticed a mischievous gleam in her younger brother's eyes just before he hid the cookies.
- darkness
complete absence of light or shine
文法句型
a gleam of + noun
the gleam of + noun
用法筆記
Often appears in the patterns 'a gleam of [light source]' for physical reflections and 'a gleam in someone's eyes' for a brief, visible feeling. Countable noun, almost always used with 'a' or 'the' plus a modifier.