What's the difference between glitter and sparkle?

Glitter


Definition:

  • (v. i.) To sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant and broken light or showy luster; to gleam; as, a glittering sword.
  • (v. i.) To be showy, specious, or striking, and hence attractive; as, the glittering scenes of a court.
  • (n.) A bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Her story is an incredible tale of triumph over tragedy: a tormented childhood during China's Cultural Revolution, detention and forced exile after exposing female infanticide – then glittering success as the head of a major US technology firm.
  • (2) In the course of a study on glioblastoma tissue and cultured cell lines, a glitter drop technique for random sampling was introduced (1).
  • (3) Browne had enjoyed a glittering career at BP, which he joined in 1966 and took over as chief executive in 1995.
  • (4) Thank God, then, for The Execution Of Gary Glitter (Mon, 9pm, Channel 4), which vividly envisions the trial and subsequent capital punishment of pop's most reviled sex offender so you don't have to.
  • (5) Last weekend, one of the most glittering alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur did not show up to give a school prize as he had promised.
  • (6) Thirty years at the glittering coalface of alternative rock has finally provided security for Shields ("I've been OK for money since about 2008"), but has taken its toll spiritually and bodily.
  • (7) At least the joyous delirium gave Drogba and, most likely, Petr Cech fitting sendoffs after glittering careers in these parts.
  • (8) He’d been at the Baftas the previous evening, and still had his glitter on.
  • (9) The broadcaster, which has previously used the mockumentary genre to put Tony Blair on trial and execute Gary Glitter , will use actors alongside real-life footage for its fictional portrayal of the Ukip leader in Downing Street.
  • (10) Already known internationally for its food and its glittering annual film festival, the city will feature choral groups in the open air and an art project, Waves of Energy, bringing to life a surge of ideas suggested by the public, as well as performances and exhibitions inside sleek venues such as Basque music’s new home, Musikene, the San Telmo museum or the cube-shaped Kursaal on the edge of the sea.
  • (11) They lack the killer ambition, that willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice, and that’s the real reason so many glittering male careers so end in failure.
  • (12) This arena was the scene of Bayern nightmares last May, when Chelsea pipped them to Europe's most glittering crown and, suddenly, the demons of the past threatened to encircle them.
  • (13) It was launched on Wednesday with a party at the Mandarin Oriental hotel next door – an event so glittering that Formula One overlord Bernie Ecclestone was in attendance and überchef Heston Blumenthal did the catering.
  • (14) He loved the excitement and the glitter of his post, but could never really accept the hours of drudgery and tedium that the job of Liberal leader involved.
  • (15) Iran, which was a Zoroastrian country before Islam arrived, is home to some of the world’s most magnificent historical and archaeological sites with ancient ruins, glittering mosques and spectacular landscapes.
  • (16) No longer content to hide beneath the shadow of the Andes, it now has a number of vibrant cultural centres (such as the striking, copper-encased GAM , which specialises in promoting the performing arts and music), glittering skyscrapers, award-winning restaurants and fantastic bars.
  • (17) Yvonne Robertson, who had travelled from Glasgow with her district lodge, spoke of "an absolutely amazing day" as her red, white and blue glitter headband sparkled in the sunshine.
  • (18) And some of the more massive trends heading into the future – the inexorables of population growth and global warming, emergent economies and regions with their own claims to truth and justice – would seem largely resistant to the glittering technical fixes that future-types of the past have put their faith in.
  • (19) Mariah Carey – Glitter (2001) Mariah Carey Glitter is no turkey – it's sold somewhere north of 3m copies.
  • (20) If only the prize itself could get away from its asinine "glittering occasion" presentation, it might yet be taken as seriously as it deserves to be - at least when it is awarded to projects like Accordia, a scheme that promises to transcend fads and fashion.

Sparkle


Definition:

  • (n.) A little spark; a scintillation.
  • (n.) Brilliancy; luster; as, the sparkle of a diamond.
  • (n.) To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.
  • (n.) To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.
  • (n.) To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.
  • (v. t.) To emit in the form or likeness of sparks.
  • (v. t.) To disperse.
  • (v. t.) To scatter on or over.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The sparkling vehicle, larger than a school bus, decorated in tropical colours and equipped with three dental chairs, pulled up in front of its very first school: the Foundation School, where Deamonte had been a student.
  • (2) English wine is to be the toast of the country’s farmers this week, with more than £100m in sales expected this year for sparkling and still varieties combined, the environment secretary will announce on Wednesday.
  • (3) Finally, Guardian sports reporter turned ace observationalist Josh Widdicombe has the ability to find the sparkle in the mundane that puts him in line to become the next Sean Lock.
  • (4) The levels of migration of mineral hydrocarbons from polystyrene cups and glasses have been measured into aqueous food simulants as well as lager, beer, cola, sparkling apple juice, lemon barley water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, lemon tea and chicken soup.
  • (5) After a glorious few days, Nick Clegg has had a less than sparkling Monday morning, according to Rachel Younger on Adam Boulton's blog on the Sky News website .
  • (6) Experts suggest that the popularity of prosecco means it risks becoming a generic term for any sparkling wine that is not champagne.
  • (7) Inside was the world's biggest map, depicting all of New York state, laid out in sparkling terrazzo, across which troupes of acrobats and dancers would perform, and the animals of the kiddies' petting zoo would snuffle.
  • (8) The sand was brown-red and the speckles of salt sparkled in the sun.
  • (9) Two-dimensional echocardiography provided additional features: (1) a more accurate diagnosis of pericardial effusion (67%) and (2) a characteristic "granular sparkling" appearance of the ventricular wall (55%).
  • (10) The truth is that some of these jokes might not have seemed very funny to the Romans either, no matter how the most sparkling ancient comic might have delivered them.
  • (11) But early audience figures for Big Brother suggests viewers are missing the celebrity sparkle – such as it was – provided by the likes of Kerry Katona and the show's eventual winner, Paddy Doherty .
  • (12) Instead, it fell steadily to just above the $1,000 mark, before this year’s sparkling recovery.
  • (13) Pedro was often the architect on a day when he introduced himself to the Chelsea supporters with a sparkling performance that included a goal and an assist on his debut.
  • (14) Yvonne Robertson, who had travelled from Glasgow with her district lodge, spoke of "an absolutely amazing day" as her red, white and blue glitter headband sparkled in the sunshine.
  • (15) Mané, in particular, has become erratic, while Tadic has suffered from the fact that opponents have studied him after his sparkling start to the campaign and increased their efforts to shackle him, partially by curtailing the ability of Southampton’s flying full-backs to support him down the flanks.
  • (16) A little magic from Messi, who sparkles along the byline and stands one up into the centre.
  • (17) Add as much of the sparkling water as you need to make a smooth, pliable mixture.
  • (18) And the sunlight, streaming down through the sparkling clear water, has turned the mother-of-pearl tones below into pure silver.
  • (19) For the first time, it looked like there was a sparkle in his eyes.
  • (20) Saponara has been at his sparkling best in the role, relishing the creative licence handed to him in a more central area.