shine

Universal Words verb, noun verb (shone, shone ) HELPNOTE In sense 3 shined is used for the past tense and past participle. 1 [V] to produce or reflect light; to be bright: The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky. * A light was shining in the distance. * The dark polished wood shone like glass. * (figurative) Her eyes were shining with excitement. * Excitement was shining in her eyes. 2 [VN] to aim or point the light of a lamp, etc. in a particular direction: He shone the flashlight around the cellar. * (figurative) Campaigners are shining a spotlight on the world's diminishing natural resources. 3 (shined, shined) [VN] to polish sth; to make sth smooth and bright: He shined shoes and sold newspapers to make money. 4 [V] to be very good at sth: He failed to shine academically but he was very good at sports. * She has set a shining example of loyal service over four decades. seealsoSHINY IDIOMS see HAY, KNIGHTn., RISEv. PHRASALVERBS shine through (sth) (of a quality) to be easy to see or notice: Her old professional skills shone through. * William looked up at her, hope shining through his tears. noun [sing.] the bright quality that sth has when light is reflected on it: a shampoo that gives your hair body and shine * the shine of polished wood IDIOMS take a shine to sb/sth (informal) to begin to like sb very much as soon as you see or meet them: He seems to have taken a shine to you. take the shine off sth (informal) to make sth seem much less good than it did at first moreatRAINn.