shining
UK: ˈʃaɪnɪŋ | US: ˈʃaɪnɪŋ
adj. emitting or reflecting light brightly
adj. (figuratively) excellent or outstanding
v. (present participle of shine) to emit light or glow
The word shining derives from the Old English scīnan ("to shine, glitter"), which shares Proto-Germanic roots with Dutch schijnen and German scheinen. The suffix -ing marks it as a present participle or adjective. Over time, shining evolved to describe both literal brightness (e.g., "a shining star") and metaphorical brilliance (e.g., "a shining example"). The morpheme shine retains its core meaning of light emission, while -ing adapts it for continuous or descriptive use.
The sun was shining brightly over the meadow.
Her performance was a shining moment in the competition.
He polished the silver until it was shining.
The lighthouse’s beacon kept shining through the storm.
Their kindness was a shining example for the community.