A glint is a brief flash or spark of light, like when sunlight catches a coin in the grass or moonlight reflects off a calm lake for just a moment. You might notice a glint off your friend's glasses when they turn their head, or see a glint of metal in the dirt that turns out to be a lost key.

The word captures something quick and sharp: glints don't glow steadily like a lamp or shine constantly like polished silver. They're sudden little flashes that catch your eye and then vanish. A detective in a mystery novel might spot the glint of a blade in the darkness, or an eagle might see the glint of a fish moving beneath the water's surface.

People also use glint as a verb to describe a particular look in someone's eyes, especially when they're feeling mischievous, excited, or determined. When your teacher gets that glint in her eye before announcing a surprise field trip, you know something good is coming. A glint of amusement means someone finds something funny but hasn't laughed yet. That brief sparkle in someone's eyes can tell you what they're thinking before they say a word.