glimpse – WordReference.com Dictionary of English

US: USA pronunciation: IPA and respelling

UK and possibly other pronunciations

UK and possibly other pronunciations /ˈglɪmps/

UK and possibly other pronunciations

UK: * UK and possibly other pronunciations

UK: * UK and possibly other pronunciations UK and possibly other pronunciations /ˈglɪmps/ US: USA pronunciation: IPA and respelling USA pronunciation: IPA /glɪmps/ , USA pronunciation: respelling (glimps)

WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023

glimpse

 /glɪmps/

USA pronunciation

n., v.,

 glimpsed, glimps•ing. 

n.

[

countable

]

1. a very brief passing look, sight, or view:

   caught only a quick glimpse of the gunmen.

2. a vague or incomplete idea;
   inkling:

   had experienced a few glimpses of his bad temper.

v.

[

~ 

+

 object

]

3. to look briefly at:

   barely glimpsed the thief.

/glɪmps/

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023

glimpse

 
(glimps),

USA pronunciation

n., v.,

 glimpsed, glimps•ing. 

n.

1. a very brief, passing look, sight, or view.

2. a momentary or slight appearance.

3. a vague idea;
   inkling.

4. [

   Archaic.

   ]

   a gleam, as of light.

v.t.

5. to catch or take a glimpse of.

v.i.

6. to look briefly;
   glance (usually fol. by at).

7. [

   Archaic.

   ]

   to come into view;
   appear faintly.

• 1350–1400; Middle English glimsen (verb, verbal); cognate with Middle High German glimsen to glow; akin to

  glimmer

glimps′er,

n.

• 5.

  See corresponding entry in Unabridged

  spot, spy, view, sight, espy.

(glimps),

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

glimpse

/

ɡlɪmps

/

n

1. a brief or incomplete view

   :

   to catch a glimpse of the sea

2. a vague indication

3. archaic

   a glimmer of light

vb

1. (

   transitive

   )

   to catch sight of briefly or momentarily

Etymology: 14

th

Century: of Germanic origin; compare Middle High German glimsen to glimmer

ˈglimpser

n

USAGE

Glimpse is sometimes wrongly used where glance is meant: he gave a quick glance (not glimpse) at his watch

‘glimpse‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):