lus|ter

lus|ter¹ «LUHS tuhr», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a bright shine on the surface: »

the luster of pearls. Beetles, glittering with metallic luster (Francis Parkman).

SYNONYM(S): sheen, gloss. See syn. under polish. (Cf. ↑polish)

2. brightness; radiance: »

Her eyes lost their luster. The sun's mild luster warms the vital air (Alexander Pope). His countenance, radiant with health and the luster of innocence (Benjamin Disraeli).

3. Figurative. fame; glory; brilliance: »

The deeds of heroes add luster to a nation's history. The virtues of Claudius…place him in that short list of emperors who added luster to the Roman purple (Edward Gibbon).

4. a) a shiny, metallic, often iridescent surface on pottery or china. b) = luster ware: (Cf. ↑luster ware) »

pink luster teacups.

5. Mineralogy. the appearance of the surface of a mineral due to the reflection of light: »

Cut a piece of lead or zinc, and observe the luster of its fresh surface (Thomas Huxley).

6. a thin, light fabric of cotton and wool that has a lustrous surface, used for dresses and lining.

7. defa>a chandelier with glass pendants: »

The luster, which had been lighted for dinner, filled the room with a festal breadth of light (Charlotte Brontë).

a) one of the glass pendants of such a chandelier.

8. something used to give a shine or gloss, such as to manufactured articles or furs.

9. a bright light; shining body or form.

–v.t.

to finish with a luster or gloss.

–v.i.

to shine with luster. Also, lustre.

╂[< Middle French lustre < Italian lustro < lustrare < Latin lūstrāre illuminate; (originally) purify by sacrifice < lūstrum a sacrifice]

lus|ter² «LUHS tuhr», noun.

a period of five years; lustrum: »

So it will be the turn of you young folks, come eight more lusters, and your heads will be bald like mine (Thackeray).

╂[< Latin lūstrum lustrum]