sparkle

plural sparkles

1. countableuncountableA little spark; a scintillation.

   The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper.

   1855–1858, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 42

   The lamp was shaded, and the fire was dim, when suddenly the log, which had burnt through, gave way; a shower of sparkles rose from the hearth, and a bright blaze illuminated the room, falling full on Francesca's face, as she bent over the patient.

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 112

2. countableuncountableBrilliance; luster.

   the sparkle of a diamond

3. countableuncountableLiveliness; vivacity.

   the sparkle of his conversation over dinner

4. countableuncountableThe quality of being sparkling or fizzy; effervescence.

present singular third person sparkles · participle present sparkling · participle past sparkled · past sparkled · alternative sparckle · alternative sparcle

1. intransitiveTo emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles.

   The wood was sparkling in the bonfire.

2. broadlyTo shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle.

   The stars sparkle in the sky.

   2 more examples

   Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   The light of the sun, already far down the horizon, makes the rock wall sparkle for a moment like pure gold.

   1989 May, Uwe George, “Venezuela's Islands in Time”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 535

3. intransitiveTo manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.

   I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes.

   1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC

   Synonyms: shine, glisten, scintillate, radiate, coruscate, glitter, twinkle

4. intransitiveTo emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce.

   sparkling wine

   1 more example

   sparkling water

5. transitiveTo emit in the form or likeness of sparks.

   That the bright glister of their beames cleare / Did sparckle forth great light, and glorious did appeare.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 32

6. obsoletetransitiveTo disperse.
7. obsoletetransitiveTo scatter on or over.