glance

glance¹

/glans, glahns/, v., glanced, glancing, n.

v.i.

1. to look quickly or briefly.

2. to gleam or flash: a silver brooch glancing in the sunlight.

3. to strike a surface or object obliquely, esp. so as to bounce off at an angle (often fol. by off): The arrow glanced off his shield.

4. to allude briefly to a topic or subject in passing (usually fol. by at).

v.t. Archaic.

5. to cast a glance or brief look at; catch a glimpse of.

6. to cast or reflect, as a gleam.

7. to throw, hit, kick, shoot, etc. (something) so that it glances off a surface or object.

n.

8. a quick or brief look.

9. a gleam or flash of light, esp. reflected light.

10. a deflected movement or course; an oblique rebound.

11. a passing reference or allusion; insinuation.

12. Cricket. a stroke in which the batsman deflects the ball with the bat, as to leg.

[1400-50; late ME glancen (v.), nasalized var. (perh. influenced by obs. glent; see GLINT) of ME glacen to strike a glancing blow < OF glacier to slip, slide < L glaciare to freeze. See GLACÉ]

Syn. 2. glisten, scintillate. See flash. 3. reflect, ricochet. 9. glitter.

glance²

/glans, glahns/, n.

any of various minerals having a luster that indicates a metallic nature.

[1795-1805; < G Glanz brightness, luster]

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