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sparkle

/ˈspɑrkəl/
/ˈspɑkəl/
IPA guide

Other forms: sparkled; sparkles

Fairy dust, stars, Christmas lights, Hanukkah candles, freshly fallen snow, a lake when the sun hits it just right — all of these things sparkle. That means they shine with a bright, glistening, shimmering light.

Sparkle can also refer to joy or merriment. When you're having a really good time, your face will sparkle. As a verb, sparkle means to be lively and excited, or to be so brilliant at something that you shine above the rest. It can also describe something bubbly or foamy — like when you add soap to your bath to make the bathwater sparkle. Sparkle can also describe something that produces sparks — like a magic wand.

Definitions of sparkle
  1. verb
    emit or produce sparks
    synonyms: spark
    see moresee less
    type of:
    emit, give off, give out
    give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.
  2. verb
    reflect brightly
    “Unquarried marble sparkled on the hillside”
    synonyms: coruscate, scintillate
    see moresee less
    type of:
    reflect, shine
    be bright by reflecting or casting light
  3. verb
    be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity
    “The musical performance sparkled
    synonyms: coruscate, scintillate
    see moresee less
    type of:
    be
    have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
  4. verb
    become bubbly or frothy or foaming
    Sparkling water”
    see moresee less
    types:
    lather
    form a lather
    seethe
    foam as if boiling
    type of:
    bubble
    form, produce, or emit bubbles
  5. noun
    the occurrence of a small flash or spark
    synonyms: coruscation, glitter
    see moresee less
    type of:
    flash
    a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
  6. noun
    the quality of shining with a bright reflected light
    see moresee less
    type of:
    brightness
    the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
  7. noun
    merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance
    “he had a sparkle in his eye”
    synonyms: light, spark, twinkle
    see moresee less
    type of:
    verve, vitality
    an energetic style
    aspect, expression, face, facial expression, look
    the feelings expressed on a person's face
Pronunciation
US
/ˈspɑrkəl/
UK
/ˈspɑkəl/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘sparkle'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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