scintillating Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb give off
    scintillate.
    • the substance scintillated sparks and flashes
  2. verb reflect brightly
    sparkle; coruscate; scintillate.
    • Unquarried marble sparkled on the hillside
  3. verb emit or reflect light in a flickering manner
    scintillate; winkle; twinkle.
    • Does a constellation twinkle more brightly than a single star?
  4. verb physics: fluoresce momentarily when struck by a charged particle or high-energy photon
    scintillate.
    • the phosphor fluoresced
  5. verb be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity
    sparkle; coruscate; scintillate.
    • The musical performance sparkled
    • A scintillating conversation
    • his playing coruscated throughout the concert hall
  6. adjective satellite brilliantly clever
    • scintillating wit
    • a play full of scintillating dialogue
  7. adjective satellite marked by high spirits or excitement
    effervescent; bubbling; frothy; sparkly.
    • his fertile effervescent mind
    • scintillating personality
    • a row of sparkly cheerleaders
  8. adjective satellite having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
    glittery; fulgid; glistering; scintillant; coruscant; sparkly; aglitter; glinting; glittering.
    • bugle beads all aglitter
    • glinting eyes
    • glinting water
    • his glittering eyes were cold and malevolent
    • shop window full of glittering Christmas trees
    • glittery costume jewelry
    • scintillant mica
    • the scintillating stars
    • a dress with sparkly sequins
    • `glistering' is an archaic term

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