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lustrous

lustrous

10 5.3
Shining with a soft, smooth glow like polished pearls
  • adjective
  • /ˈlʌstrəs/
: lustroso
  • Her black hair is fine, thick, lustrous, and healthy.

It's there when I look in the mirror and, and if I touch my hair, I used to feel kind of thick, lustrous locks, like gorgeous, just enjoyable.

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Examples

  • Philip gave her a gift for her labors, a large, lustrous pearl shaped like a teardrop.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The car's lustrous paint job made it stand out on the showroom floor.

  • Your hair is so lustrous.

  • To ensure that your hair and skin will stay lustrous and soft, moisture is definitely needed.

    Blog text (32)
  • Despite her lack of a chin, she had lustrous short brown hair and gentle brown eyes.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Up close, I could see a few gray hairs in the lustrous dark ones under her own crisp white cap.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "Hey, aren't you gorgeous?" She was in prime condition, her coat lustrous and almost fully thickened for the coming winter.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Thick auburn hair curled past its ears, and its coppery-brown skin was lustrous and smooth.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Sonia shook her head, her lustrous hair spilling about her shoulders, then bent to the task again.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Her sleek and delicate profile was limned by her lustrous flaxen hair, which appeared to glow in the half-light.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

bright
vslustrous
510 1.0

Full of strong light that makes a place easy to see

is about smooth, gentle radiance not strong illumination
shiny
vslustrous
304 1.0

Bright and smooth because it reflects light

emphasizes a softer, more glowing reflection than blunt brightness
shining
vslustrous
107 1.0

Bright and reflecting light because it is clean or polished

is softer and more about gentle surface glow
radiant
vslustrous
59 4.1

Shining or glowing brightly, often seeming very happy

is milder, being about soft, smooth radiance rather than brightness
gleaming
vslustrous
41 3.2

Shining with a bright, smooth surface like shiny metal

is gentler and more about soft radiance than intense polish
luminous
vslustrous
39 4.8

Shining with a soft steady light like a lantern

is more about surface smoothness and shine than emitted light
sparkly
vslustrous
36 2.3

Shining with many small bright points like glitter

is even and smooth in reflection rather than dotted sparkle
sparkling
vslustrous
33 1.3

Shining with small bright points like light on snow

is calmer, showing smooth, even radiance rather than flashes
glittering
vslustrous
32 3.0

Shining with many small bright points like stars

is steadier and less about flash than overall sheen
glossy
vslustrous
31 2.6

Having a smooth shiny surface that reflects light like paper or hair

leans more toward a soft, glowing radiance than flat gloss
brilliant
vslustrous
24 3.0

Very bright and shining with strong light

is softer and less intense in its shine
glistening
vslustrous
20 3.4

Shining with bright light, often because it is wet or smooth

is about a dry, soft radiance rather than wet sparkle
glittery
vslustrous
13 2.7

Shining with many small, bright points of light

presents a uniform, smooth glow rather than scattered flashes
metallic-colored
vslustrous
11 5.5

A shiny color like metal, for example silver or gold

is about smooth glow rather than metallic color effects
glowy
vslustrous
6 5.6

A soft bright look that seems to shine from within

puts more weight on reflective smooth surface than inner glow
burnished
vslustrous
6 6.5

Has a smooth shiny surface after polishing

conveys gentle glowing light rather than strong mirror finish
shimmery
vslustrous
4 5.0

A soft, flickering shine that gently catches the light

is stable and even in its soft reflective appearance
satiny
vslustrous
3 4.1

Smooth and soft with a shiny surface like silk

is about soft radiant shine rather than fabric-like smoothness
glinting
vslustrous
3 3.6

Shines with small bright flashes of light

is steady and continuous in its soft reflective glow
opalescent
vslustrous
1 8.2

Soft, shiny colors on a surface that look like a small rainbow

focuses on consistent radiance rather than color play
pearlescent
vslustrous
1 7.9

A shiny surface like a pearl that shows rainbow colors when you move it

is a steady soft shine rather than shifting color effects
specular
vslustrous
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A shiny surface that reflects light like a mirror

is softer and more diffuse in its reflected light
lightful
vslustrous
  • Archaic
1 7.7

Full of bright light

focuses on a polished, smooth surface glow rather than broad light
gleamy
vslustrous
1 4.2

A smooth shiny surface that reflects light

is focused on warm, gentle glow rather than firm polish
sheeny
vslustrous
1 6.7

Having a smooth, shiny surface that reflects light

is about soft radiance and glow rather than mere polish

Antonyms

30 1.0

Not bright or shiny with weak colour

19 3.5

Not shiny and showing little reflection

How Shiny

dazzling
51 3.9
glossy
31 2.6
lustrous
10 5.3
shiny
304 1.0
matte
19 3.5

Surface Forms

lustrous positive

Morphology

lustrous = lustre (transparent) = lustre + ous

The adjective is a regular derivation from the noun 'lustre' with the productive suffix '-ous', so the meaning 'having sheen or brilliance' follows directly.

Etymology

Lustrous comes from the same root as luster and the old Latin word lustrare, which means 'to make bright' or 'shine'. So lustrous describes a smooth, glowing surface that catches the light, like pearls or glossy pottery.