luster
1 of 3noun (1)
lus·ter ˈlə-stər 
variants or lustre
1
: a glow of reflected light : sheen
specifically : the appearance of the surface of a mineral dependent upon its reflecting qualities
the luster of polished metal
2
a
: a glow of light from within : luminosity
the luster of the stars
b
: an inner beauty : radiance
3
: a superficial (see superficial sense 2a) attractiveness or appearance of excellence
scandals have diminished his luster
4
a
: a glass pendant (see pendant sense 1a) used especially to ornament a candlestick or chandelier
b
: a decorative object (such as a chandelier) hung with glass pendants
5
chiefly British : a fabric with cotton warp and a filling of wool, mohair, or alpaca
6
: lusterware
lusterless
ˈlə-stər-ləs
adjective luster
2 of 3verb
variants or lustre
lustered or lustred; lustering or lustring ˈlə-st(ə-)riŋ
intransitive verb
: to have luster : gleam
transitive verb
1
: to give luster or distinction to
2
: to coat or treat with a substance that imparts luster
luster
3 of 3noun (2)
variants or lustre
: a period of five years : lustrum sense 2
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- burnish
- gloss
- luminance
- polish
- sheen
- shine
Verb
- coruscate
- flame
- flash
- glance
- gleam
- glimmer
- glint
- glisten
- glister
- glitter
- scintillate
- shimmer
- spangle
- sparkle
- twinkle
- wink
- winkle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb her pearl necklace lustered softly in the candlelight of the restaurant
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle French lustre, from Old Italian lustro, from lustrare to brighten, from Latin, to purify ceremonially, from lustrum
Verb
verbal derivative of luster entry 1
Noun (2)
Middle English lustre, from Latin lustrum
First Known Use
Noun (1)
circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1528, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
luster
noun
lus·ter
variants or lustre
ˈlə-stər
: the shiny quality of a surface that reflects light
a pearl's luster
lusterless
adjective
as in matte
lacking a surface luster or gloss a small tombstone of lusterless granite marks his modest grave Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- matte
- dull
- gray
- dulled
- matt
- flat
- pale
- dim
- mat
- grey
- black
- dark
- drab
- unpolished
- darkened
- tarnished
- lackluster
- dingy
- muddy
- mousy
- obscured
- cloudy
- leaden
- gloomy
- dusky
- darkish
- obscure
- somber
- dirty
- dimmed
- murky
- stygian
- palish
- mousey
- sombre
- tenebrous
- pitch-dark
- pitch-black
- tenebrific
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- glossy
- lustrous
- shiny
- sleek
- polished
- burnished
- lacquered
- rubbed
- varnished
- glazed
- satiny
- silky
- satin
- silken
- luminous
- slippery
- gleaming
- shining
- slick
- shellacked
- sparkling
- glistening
- buffed
- bright
- dazzling
- brilliant
- shining
- radiant
- shimmering
- resplendent
- effulgent
- lucent
- incandescent
- glowing
- lambent
- lucid
- fulgent
- refulgent
- glittering
- twinkling
- glimmering
- glinting
- gemmy
- candescent
- scintillating
- brightened
- bedazzling
- beaming