1 coruscate | Definition of coruscate
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coruscate

verb
cor·​us·​cate | \ ˈkȯr-ə-ˌskāt How to pronounce coruscate (audio) , ˈkär-\
coruscated; coruscating

Definition of coruscate

intransitive verb

1 : to give off or reflect light in bright beams or flashes : sparkle
2 : to be brilliant or showy in technique or style
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about coruscate

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Did You Know?

To help you gain a flash of recognition next time you see "coruscate" (or to prompt you when you need a brilliant synonym for "sparkle"), remember this bit of bright imagery by George Bernard Shaw, describing a centuries-old abbey: "O'er this north door a trace still lingers / Of how a Gothic craftsman's fingers / Could make stones creep like ivy stems / And tilings coruscate like gems." Or you could just remember that "coruscate" developed from Latin coruscare, which means "to flash." That word also gave us the noun "coruscation" ("glitter" or "sparkle") and the adjective "coruscant" ("shining" or "glittering").

Examples of coruscate in a Sentence

a classic car from the 1950s, replete with yards of coruscating chrome

Recent Examples on the Web

 Brazil had been in coruscating form up to that point, so few expected them to falter. — SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 9 Days to Go - What if Paolo Rossi Had Still Been Banned?," 5 June 2018 In February the group dropped Slag (Aerophonic), a live recording of a coruscating performance at London’s Café Oto in 2015. — Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader, "Free-improv trio Ballister is a fire-breathing behemoth, but beneath the ferocity lies a sophisticated group of musicians," 22 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coruscate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of coruscate

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for coruscate

Latin coruscatus, past participle of coruscare to flash

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More from Merriam-Webster on coruscate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with coruscate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coruscate

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