First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1shimmer
verb shim·mer \ˈshi-mər\
: to shine with a light that seems to move slightly
shim·meredshim·mer·ing \ˈshi-mə-riŋ, ˈshim-riŋ\
Full Definition of SHIMMER
intransitive verb
1
: to shine with a soft tremulous or fitful light : glimmer
2
: to reflect a wavering sometimes distorted visual image
transitive verb
: to cause to shimmer
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Origin of SHIMMER
Middle English schimeren, from Old English scimerian; akin to Old English scīnan to shine — more at shine
Related to SHIMMER
Synonym Discussion of SHIMMER
flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light. flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light <lightning flashed>. gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background <lights gleamed in the valley>. glint implies a cold glancing light <glinting steel>. sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light <the sparkling waters>. glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming <glittering diamonds>. glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface <glistening wet sidewalk>. glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam <a distant glimmering light>. shimmer means shining with a wavering light <a shimmering satin dress>.
2shimmer
noun
Definition of SHIMMER
2
: a wavering sometimes distorted visual image usually resulting from heat-induced changes in atmospheric refraction
— shim·mery \ˈshi-mə-rē, ˈshim-rē\ adjective
First Known Use of SHIMMER
1821
SHIMMER Defined for Kids
1shimmer
verb shim·mer \ˈshi-mər\
shim·meredshim·mer·ing
Definition of SHIMMER for Kids
: to shine with a wavering light : glimmer
2shimmer
noun
Definition of SHIMMER for Kids
: a wavering light <the shimmer of silver leaves>
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