Gleam means to shine with a soft, steady light, like the way polished silver catches lamplight or how a cat's eyes glow when you shine a flashlight toward them in the dark. Unlike a harsh glare or a sudden flash, a gleam is gentler and often seems to come from within the surface of something smooth or polished.

You might notice the gleam of morning sunlight on a calm lake, or the gleam of freshly waxed floors in your school hallway. A knight's armor in a medieval painting often shows a metallic gleam. When you polish an old coin, you're working to restore its gleam.

The word also describes a brief flash of emotion in someone's eyes. When your friend gets a gleam in their eye while planning something mischievous, you can see the excitement there. A gleam of hope means a small but real sign that things might work out. A gleam of understanding crosses your face when you suddenly grasp a difficult concept.

The noun form is also common: The gleam of treasure caught the explorer's attention, or There wasn't a single gleam of light in the abandoned house.