Word: luster Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle French lustre, from Old Italian lustro, from Old Italian lustrare (“brighten”), from Latin lūstrō (“to purify, to brighten”), from Latin lūstrum (“purification ritual”). Pronunciation: /ˈlʌstɚ/ 1. The ability or condition of shining with reflected light; sheen, gleam, gloss, sparkle, shine, etc. Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: metallic luster Example: pearly luster 2. The ability or condition of shining with reflected light; sheen, gleam, gloss, sparkle, shine, etc. Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: 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 and non-metallic lusters. […] The vitreous is the luster of glass, and of all minerals similar to glass in appearance, such as quartz, calcite, etc. The resinous luster is seen in resins, of which the native mineral copalite is an example; it is also well exhibited in sulphur and sphalerite. The pearly luster, i.e., the luster of pearl, is well shown only in minerals having a foliated or scaly structure, in other words, very perfect cleavage in one direction, such as talc, mica, and gypsum. The silky or satiny luster, like the pearly, is determined by the structure, being observed only in finely fibrous minerals. […] The greasy and waxy lusters are most common in certain amorphous minerals, such as serpentine. 3. Shining light from within, luminosity, brightness, shine. Labels: US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: the sun’s luster Example: the luster of the minor stars 4. Shining beauty, splendor, attractiveness or attraction. Labels: US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: 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! Example: After so many years in the same field, the job had lost its luster. 5. Shining fame, renown, glory. Labels: US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: After the scandal, the idol lost his luster and could only get work in Vegas. Example: […] whose ancestors, says Clarendon, had been transported out of Normandy with the Conqueror, "and had continued," says Sir Henry Wotton, "about the space of four hundred years, rather without obscurity than with any great lustre […]". 6. Polish, social refinement. Labels: US, countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: Sure, the posh git spoke with fine lustre. ’S all a load of bollocks, though, innit? 7. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, literary, uncountable 8. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: 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. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: The immense room was carpeted, the walls were covered with eighteenth-century panelling, and three electric lustres hung from the ceiling. 10. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: 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. Example: Chinese themes are equally recognisable in the star-shaped and hexagonal tiles with either moulded relief or lustre-painted decoration, sometimes surrounded by an inscription border […] 11. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, uncountable 12. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable Example: 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. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: Mrs. McLash was dressed for travelling. She wore a black lustre skirt that just exposed her broken button-boots […] 14. A thing exhibiting luster, particularly Labels: US, countable, obsolete, uncountable