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to spangle

to spangle

1 7.4
To shine as if covered with small shiny pieces
  • verb
  • /ˈspæŋɡəl/
translation icon : brillar
  • A warm sun was climbing into a clear blue sky, the fresh air fragrant from the many-colored blooms that spangled the meadow.
  • star-spangled
  • the spangled sky
  • sun-spangled

Examples

  • Lulled by the background roar and lap of the waves, he gazed up into the onyx bowl spangled with life and light, and took her hand.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The ocean spangled with light.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Very romantic, really, sitting in the back row with the splendors of the heavens spangled above.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The hard, drying mud of the clearing was spangled with tiny fallen green-yellow blossoms.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • As the sun began to streak the mist with blood and gold, the hunting party assembled in the forecourt, spangled with damp and bright-eyed with anticipation.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Small dust devils chalked funnels across the gravel lot, and the sun spangled the fading chrome of a '52 Mercury gutted for parts.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The sky was spangled with stars, twinkling brightly against the dark background.

  • The evening dress was carefully spangled with sequins that caught the light beautifully.

  • During the festival, the trees were spangled with colorful lights, creating a magical atmosphere.

Synonyms

to gleam
vsto spangle
70 1.9

To shine softly, often on a smooth or wet surface

suggests many small shiny bits rather than a smooth single glow
to glitter
vsto spangle
52 1.3

To shine with many small bright points of light on something

is about many small attached shiny pieces rather than general shine
to shimmer
vsto spangle
51 4.3

To shine with a soft, slightly moving light

is a clearer many-point shine, not the soft wavering impression
to glisten
vsto spangle
49 4.1

Shine with a soft light, like when wet or polished

shows distinct small shiny pieces instead of a smooth wet look
to twinkle
vsto spangle
26 1.5

To shine with small quick flashes of light, often in eyes or stars

is the steady look of many small shiny pieces rather than flicker
to sparkle
vsto spangle
26 1.0

To shine with small bright flashes of light

is steadier and suggests many small attached shiny pieces
to glint
vsto spangle
19 3.9

To shine briefly with a small flash as light bounces off something

is about repeated tiny reflective points rather than single brief flashes
to glare
vsto spangle
4 3.3

To shine with a bright, harsh light that hurts your eyes

is about delicate many small shiny pieces, not a strong harsh brightness
to glister
vsto spangle
  • Archaic
1 8.8

To shine with small bright flashes

emphasizes many small separate shiny bits rather than one smooth surface

How Sparkly

to glitter
52 1.3
to sparkle
26 1.0
to spangle
1 7.4
to gleam
70 1.9
to glimmer
12 3.9

Surface Forms

spangle infinitive
spangled past
spangled past participle
spangling present participle
spangles third person singular

Etymology

The verb spangle comes from the same idea of being covered with many small shiny plates or pieces, so to spangle is to glitter or sparkle as if full of tiny bright bits.