Luster

noun lusters · lustre

1. US, countable, uncountable The ability or condition of shining with reflected light; sheen, gleam, gloss, sparkle, shine, etc. metallic luster
2. US, countable, uncountable The way in which the surface of any particular type of mineral reflects light differently from other minerals, which is helpful in telling minerals apart. By the luster or glance of a mineral is meant the quantity and quality of light reflected by it, as determined by the character or minute structure of its surface. […] The two principal kinds of luster are the metallic and non-metallic. […] The adamantine luster is intermediate between the metallic
3. US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Shining light from within, luminosity, brightness, shine. the sun’s luster
4. US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Shining beauty, splendor, attractiveness or attraction. How does the Luſtre of our Father’s Actions, Through the dark Cloud of Ills that cover him, Break out, and burn with more triumphant Brightneſs!
5. US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Shining fame, renown, glory. After the scandal, the idol lost his luster and could only get work in Vegas.
6. US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Polish, social refinement. Sure, the posh git spoke with fine lustre. ’S all a load of bollocks, though, innit?
7. US, countable, literary, uncountable Any shining body or thing.
8. US, countable, uncountable A piece of glass added to a light (especially a chandelier) to increase its luster. Each mortal has his pleasure: none deny Scarsdale his bottle, Darty his ham-pie; Ridotta sips and dances, till she see The doubling lustres dance as fast as she;
9. US, countable, uncountable An ornamental light providing luster, especially a chandelier. The immense room was carpeted, the walls were covered with eighteenth-century panelling, and three electric lustres hung from the ceiling.
10. US, countable, uncountable A substance that imparts luster to a surface, such as polish, gloss, plumbago, glaze, etc. Gabriel coloured as if he felt he had made a mistake and, without looking at her, kicked off his goloshes and flicked actively with his muffler at his patent-leather shoes. […] When he had flicked lustre into his shoes he stood up and pulled his waistcoat down more tightly on his plump body.
11. US, countable, uncountable The layer of an object that imparts luster, chiefly with regard to ceramics.
12. US, abbreviation, clipping, countable, uncountable Clipping of lusterware: highly lustrous ceramics.lusterware The whole place was covered with fragments of pottery, mostly very rough, and difficult to identify as to date. Two small lustre shards belong to the ninth or tenth century and a green glaze resembles the output of the kilns found by Sir Aurel Stein on the coast of Makran.
13. US, countable, uncountable A kind of lustrous fabric with a wool weft and cotton, linen, or silk warp, chiefly used for women's dresses. Mrs. McLash was dressed for travelling. She wore a black lustre skirt that just exposed her broken button-boots […]
14. US, countable, obsolete, uncountable A glory, an act or thing that imparts fame or renown.

verb lusters · lustering · lustered · lustre

1. US, archaic, intransitive To have luster, to gleam, to shine. What bloom, what brightness lusters o’er her cheeks!
2. US, archaic, intransitive To gain luster, to become lustrous.
3. US, obsolete, transitive To make illustrious or attractive, to distinguish. Our Puritans have from hence learned to colour and lustre their ugly Treasons... with the cloake of Religion.
4. US, transitive To coat with a lustrous material or glaze, to impart physical luster to an object. Peter and Mania found a pensione whose view was of chestnut woods and a horizon looped by peaks lustred with last winter’s snow, distant in time as well as space.
5. US, obsolete, transitive To shed light on, to illustrate, to show.
6. US, obsolete, transitive Synonym of purify, to ritually cleanse or renew.
7. US, obsolete, transitive Synonym of look, to look over, to survey.

Similar: lustrate

noun lusters · lustre

1. US, alternative Alternative form of lustrum: A five-year period, especially (historical) in Roman contexts.lustrum ...thritty yere of vj. lustres...

noun lusters

1. US, archaic One who lusts, one inflamed with lust. Eumenides But did neuer any Louers come hether?

noun lusters · lustre

1. US, obsolete Synonym of den: a dwelling-place in a wilderness, especially for animals. ...But, turning to his luster, Calues and Dam, He shewes abhorr'd death, in his angers flame...

proper noun Lusters

1. A surname from German.