v., glanced, glanc·ing, glanc·es. v.intr.
- To direct the gaze briefly: glance at the menu; glanced in the rearview mirror.
- To move rapidly from one thing to another. Used of the eyes.
- To shine briefly; glint. See synonyms at flash.
- To strike a surface at such an angle as to be deflected: A pebble glanced off the windshield. See synonyms at brush1.
- To make a passing reference; touch briefly: a history course that only glanced at the Korean conflict.
- To strike (a surface) at an angle; graze: The arrow glanced the target but didn't stick.
- To cause to strike a surface at an angle: glanced a stone off the wall.
- A brief or cursory look: gave the paper a glance before breakfast.
- A quick flash of light; a gleam.
- 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.]
glance2 (glăns)
n.
Any of various minerals that have a brilliant luster: silver glance.
[German Glanz, from Middle High German glanz, from Old High German, bright.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
