luster

Noun
US[luhs-ter]/ˈlʌstɚ/2 syllables
Synonyms: lustrebrilliancysplendorsplendourshininesssheen

Open English WordNet

Noun (3)

  1. a quality that outshines the usualSynonyms: lustrebrilliancysplendorsplendourType of brightness
  2. the visual property of something that shines with reflected lightSynonyms: shininesssheenlustreType of radiance, radiancy
  3. a surface coating for ceramics or porcelainSynonyms: lustreType of glaze

Related words brilliant adjective, sheeny adjective

Word of the day · Oct 18About this word
kindleverb

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Lust′er noun

One who lusts.

Lus′ter Lus′tre noun

Origin: L. lustrum: cf. F. lustre.

A period of five years; a lustrum.

Both of us have closed the tenth luster.— Henry St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke
Lus′ter, Lus′tre noun

Origin: F. lustre; cf. It. lustro; both fr. L. lustrare to purify, go about (like the priests at the lustral sacrifice), traverse, survey, illuminate, fr. lustrum a purificatory sacrifice; perh. akin to E. loose. But lustrare to illuminate is perhaps a different word, and akin to L. lucere to be light or clear, to shine. See Lucid, and cf. Illustrious, Lustrum.

1. Brilliancy; splendor; brightness; glitter.

The right mark and very true luster of the diamond.— Sir Thomas More
The scorching sun was mounted high, In all its luster, to the noonday sky.— Joseph Addison

☞ There is a tendency to limit the use of luster, in this sense, to the brightness of things which do not shine with their own light, or at least do not blaze or glow with heat. One speaks of the luster of a diamond, or of silk, or even of the stars, but not often now of the luster of the sun, a coal of fire, or the like.

2. Renown; splendor; distinction; glory.

His ancestors continued about four hundred years, rather without obscurity than with any great luster.— Sir Henry Wotton

3. A candlestick, chandelier, girandole, or the like, generally of an ornamental character. Alexander Pope

4. Mineralogy The appearance of the surface of a mineral as affected by, or dependent upon, peculiarities of its reflecting qualities.

☞ The principal kinds of luster recognized are: metallic, adamantine, vitreous, resinous, greasy, pearly, and silky. With respect to intensity, luster is characterized as splendent, shining, glistening, glimmering, and dull.

5. A substance which imparts luster to a surface, as graphite and some of the glazes.

6. A fabric of wool and cotton with a lustrous surface, — used for women's dresses.

Luster ware, earthenware decorated by applying to the glazing metallic oxides, which acquire brilliancy in the process of baking.

Lus′ter, Lus′tre transitive verb [past tense & past participle Lustred; present participle & verbal noun Lustering, or Lustring.]

To make lustrous. R. & Poetic

Flooded and lustered with her loosened gold.— James Russell Lowell

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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