lustre

Everyday

1. Lustre is a soft, shining glow on a surface, like the shine on pearls, silk, metal or healthy hair. tree →
2. Lustre is the special quality or fame that makes something seem bright and admired. tree →
3. (science) Lustre is how a mineral reflects light: metallic, glassy, pearly, dull. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on rocks and metals, lustre is one way to identify minerals: gold has a metallic lustre, quartz a glassy one. In everyday life polishing brings back lustre. In stories «the event lost its lustre» means it became less exciting. Phrases: «metallic lustre», «lose its lustre», «add lustre to».

Examples

• The pearl had a beautiful soft lustre. tree →
• Gold keeps its lustre for thousands of years. tree →
• Polishing the old spoon brought back its lustre. tree →
• We sorted the minerals by lustre: metallic or non-metallic. tree →
• Her hair had a healthy lustre. tree →
• After a week, the new game lost its lustre. tree →
• If it sparkles as brightly as ever go straight on, but if its lustre is dimmed choose another path.’ tree →

Note

UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand: «lustre»; USA: «luster». Adjective «lustrous» (shiny). Uncountable.