incandescent smile
- noun
- /ˌɪn.kənˈdɛs.ənt smaɪl/
- Literature
:
sonrisa radiante
- The child's incandescent smile was so bright that it warmed the hearts of all who saw it.
Examples
-
Clara watched Andy's jaw tighten and his eyes go hard when he heard his son's laughter or saw that incandescent smile.
Fiction book (1993) -
When she sees her friend after a long time, she greets him with an incandescent smile that lights up the room.
-
His incandescent smile made everyone around him feel instantly happier and more relaxed.
Synonyms
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1.0
A facial expression with the mouth corners turned up to show happiness or friendliness
139
1.0
A broad smile showing the teeth when someone is happy or amused
4
1.0
A friendly expression on the face that shows real kindness
A very bright smile that shows great happiness
A gentle smile that seems to glow softly
A happy look on someone's face that shows joy
Antonyms
How Radiant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'incandescent' (bright, glowing, or intensely brilliant) combines directly with 'smile' to yield a predictable meaning of a radiant or vividly bright smile. Although slightly literary and metaphorical, the sense follows normal adjective + noun composition and would be inferable to learners who know both constituents.
Etymology
Incandescent smile comes from old light bulbs that glow when they get very hot; incandescent means 'glowing' and smile is a happy face. So it describes a smile so 'bright' and 'warm' that it seems to light up a room.