shine

shine¹

/shuyn/, v., shone or, esp. for 9, 10, shined; shining; n.

v.i.

1. to give forth or glow with light; shed or cast light.

2. to be bright with reflected light; glisten; sparkle.

3. (of light) to appear brightly or strongly, esp. uncomfortably so: Wear dark glasses so the sun won't shine in your eyes.

4. to be or appear unusually animated or bright, as the eyes or face.

5. to appear with brightness or clearness, as feelings.

6. to excel or be conspicuous: to shine in school.

v.t.

7. to cause to shine.

8. to direct the light of (a lamp, mirror, etc.): Shine the flashlight on the steps so I can see.

9. to put a gloss or polish on; polish (as shoes, silverware, etc.).

10. shine up to, Informal.

a. to attempt to impress (a person), esp. in order to gain benefits for oneself.

b. to become especially attentive to (one of the opposite sex): Men shine up to her like moths to a light.

n.

11. radiance or brightness caused by emitted or reflected light.

12. luster; polish.

13. sunshine; fair weather.

14. a polish or gloss given to shoes.

15. an act or instance of polishing shoes.

16. Informal. a foolish prank; caper.

17. Slang (disparaging and offensive). a black person.

18. come rain or shine,

a. regardless of the weather.

b. no matter what the circumstances may be: Come rain or shine, he is always on the job. Also, rain or shine.

19. take a shine to, Informal. to take a liking or fancy to: That little girl has really taken a shine to you.

[bef. 900; ME s(c)hinen (v.), OE scinan; c. D schijnen, G scheinen, ON skina, Goth skeinan]

Syn. 1. glimmer, shimmer. SHINE, BEAM, GLARE refer to the emitting or reflecting of light. SHINE refers to a steady glowing or reflecting of light: to shine in the sun. That which BEAMS gives forth a radiant or bright light: to beam like a star. GLARE refers to the shining of a light that is not only bright but so strong as to be unpleasant and dazzling: to glare like a headlight. 9. buff, burnish, brighten. 12. gloss, gleam, glow, sheen.

shine²

/shuyn/, n. Slang.

moonshine.

[1935-40; by shortening]

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