adjective
lambent
LAM-bunt/ˈlæmbənt/
Shining with a gentle flickering light.
The candle casts a lambent glow across the copper bowl.
Etymology
The Latin pieces mean “licking”: light or flame is imagined as licking a surface. This image gives lambent its sense of softly flickering or playing over something.
In context
With bright, but oft destructive gleam, Alike o'er all his lightnings fly, Thy lambent glories only beam Around the favourites of the sky. Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys On fools and villains ne'er descend;
More examples
- The fireplace fills the room with lambent light.
- Lambent reflections dance on the water beneath the dock.
- She watches the lambent flames flicker behind the stove's glass door.
Forms
lambent
Similar words
- glowing
- Describes steady light as well as light that flickers gently.
- shimmering
- Emphasizes small, wavering changes in brightness, often from reflections.
- flickering
- Emphasizes rapid changes in light without necessarily suggesting softness.