noun
sparkle
SPAH-kuhl
noun
1
A small flash of light, or a general quality of shining brightness.
"The sparkle of the diamond caught everyone's eye."
2
Liveliness or charm in a person's manner.
"Her performance had real sparkle and energy."
verb
1
To shine with quick flashes of light.
"The lake sparkled under the afternoon sun."
"Her eyes sparkled with excitement."
How to Use Sparkle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo shine with little flashes of light, or a lively, charming quality in someone's personality.
Common pairings
sparkle with excitement
eyes sparkle
Word Forms
sparkled past tense, sparkles plural, sparkles singular
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Etymology
From Middle English sparkle, built from "spark" plus a diminutive ending, literally "a little spark."