Word of the day: Coruscate

Coruscate

[KOR-ə-skeyt]

Part of speech: verb

Origin: Latin, 18th century

(Of light) Flash or sparkle.

Examples of coruscate in a sentence

"The sun coruscated across the many glimmering surfaces of the crashing waves."

"Mark had lit candles before we arrived, and we could see them coruscating in the window from the street."

About Coruscate

“Coruscate” is based on the Latin “coruscāre,” meaning “to glitter.”

Did you Know?

“Coruscate” — an adjective associated with cheerful bright sparkles — might be confused with the similar-sounding verb “excoriate,” which has the very different meaning of “to damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin),” or “to censure or criticize severely.” Though “coruscate” and “excoriate” sound similar, they have different Latin roots. “Excoriate” is built on the Latin root “excoriat-,” meaning “skinned,” while “coruscate” refers back to the Latin word “coruscāre” and invokes sparkling, gleaming lights.