v. glanced, glanc·ing, glanc·es v.intr. 1. a. To direct the eyes at or toward something briefly: glanced in the rearview mirror. b. To read quickly or in cursory fashion: glanced at the menu. 2. a. To strike a surface at such an angle as to be deflected: A pebble glanced off the windshield. b. To shine over or through something at an angle: The sun glanced through the leaves. c. To be reflected, especially in flashes: sunlight glanced off the water. 3. To make a passing reference; touch briefly: a history course that only glanced at the Korean conflict. v.tr. 1. To strike (a surface) at an angle; graze: The arrow glanced the target but didn't stick. See Synonyms at brush1. 2. To cause to strike a surface at an angle: glanced a stone off the wall. n. Idiom: 1. A brief or cursory look: gave the paper a glance before breakfast. 2. A quick flash of light; a gleam. 3. An oblique movement following impact; a deflection: The car struck the barrier and went off at a glance. at first glance On initial consideration: At first glance the plan seemed unworkable. [Middle English glauncen, alteration (influenced by glenten, to shine) of glacen, from Old French glacer, to slide; see GLACIS.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. Any of various minerals that have a brilliant luster: silver glance. [German Glanz, from Middle High German glanz, from Old High German, bright; see ghel-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.