English · Word Candidate

glow

/ɡləʊ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: glows · glowing · glowed · glew

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To emit heat and light without a flame.

Verb

Examples

Iron glows red hot when heated to near its melting point.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Of a fire: to emit heat and light.

Verb

Examples

The fire was still glowing after ten hours.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A state of heat and light being emitted by a hot object.

Noun

Examples

The struggling spark of good within, / Just smother'd in the strife of sin, / They quicken to a timely glow, / The pure flame spreading high and low.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A state of heat being emitted by a person or an animal's body.

Noun

Examples

He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “glow” mean?

To emit heat and light without a flame.

Is “glow” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.