SHINING

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does shining mean? 

• SHINING (noun)
  The noun SHINING has 1 sense:

1. the work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it

  Familiarity information: SHINING used as a noun is very rare.

• SHINING (adjective)
  The adjective SHINING has 3 senses:

1. marked by exceptional merit

2. made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow

3. reflecting light

  Familiarity information: SHINING used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHINING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

polishing; shining

Context example:

every Sunday he gave his car a good polishing

Hypernyms ("shining" is a kind of...):

work (activity directed toward making or doing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shining"):

shoeshine (the act of shining shoes)

Derivation:

shine (make (a surface) shine)

• SHINING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Marked by exceptional merit

Context example:

a shining example

Similar:

superior (of high or superior quality or performance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow

Synonyms:

bright; burnished; lustrous; shining; shiny

Context example:

shiny black patents

Similar:

polished (perfected or made shiny and smooth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reflecting light

Synonyms:

glistening; glossy; lustrous; sheeny; shining; shiny

Context example:

shining white enamel

Similar:

bright (emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts)

 Context examples 

As the Monkey King finished his story Dorothy looked down and saw the green, shining walls of the Emerald City before them.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

It was a dark night, with a many stars a-shining.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

When he had made two snips, he saw the little Red-Cap shining, and then he made two snips more, and the little girl sprang out, crying: Ah, how frightened I have been!

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The stern window was open, for it was a warm night, and you could see the moon shining behind on the ship's wake.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Lord John was standing at gaze with his finger on the trigger of his elephant-gun, his eager hunter's soul shining from his fierce eyes.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The sun shining slantwise through the trees threw delicate traceries across the road, with bars of golden light between.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Now let’s turn to the superb opportunities you will have for your career—they are shining like diamonds!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

She stood before him, with shining eyes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

When we rose again, I observed Holmes’s eyes were shining and his cheeks tinged with colour.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)