shimmer
oxford
views updated May 23 2018shim·mer / ˈshimər/ •
v. [intr.] shine with a soft tremulous light: the sea shimmered in the sunlight.•
n. [in sing.] a light with such qualities: a pale shimmer of moonlight.DERIVATIVES: shim·mer·ing·ly adv.shim·mer·y adj.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
shimmer
oxford
views updated May 17 2018shimmer Late OE.
sċymrian, *
sċimerian = (M)LG., (M)Du.
schēmeren be shaded or shadowy, glimmer, glitter, G.
schimmern, iterative (see
-ER4) f. Gmc. *
skim-, extension of *
skī́- SHINE1. Obs. in XVII; revived by Scott XIX.
Hence sb. XIX.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
shimmer
oxford
views updated May 29 2018shimmer(atmospheric boil) The continuously varying distortion of objects seen at low levels caused by variations in surface atmospheric properties, as over strongly heated ground.
A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY
