glow
UK: ɡləʊ | US: ɡloʊ
n. a steady radiance of light or heat
vi. to emit light or warmth without flame
vi. (figurative) to show strong emotion (e.g., cheeks glowing with pride)
The word "glow" traces back to Old English glōwan, meaning "to shine like something intensely heated." It shares roots with Old Norse glóa and Middle Dutch gloeien, all conveying the idea of radiant light or heat. Unlike many modern English words with Latin or Greek roots, "glow" retains its compact Germanic structure, reflecting its ancient origin as a core verb describing natural luminosity. Its meaning expanded metaphorically to include emotional warmth (e.g., "glowing with pride") while preserving the original sense of soft, flameless light.
The embers continued to glow long after the fire died.
Her face began to glow under the golden sunset.
The screen emits a faint blue glow in the dark.
His eyes glowed with excitement when he saw the surprise.
The jellyfish glowed eerily in the deep ocean.