glance

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to hit something at an angle and then fly off in a different direction.

v. to strike a surface at an oblique angle and be deflected. Often followed by 'off'.

“The stone glanced off the window without breaking the glass.”

“The bullet glanced off the armored plating, leaving only a shallow scuff mark on the metal surface.”

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to shine or reflect light quickly.

v. to emit a brief flash of light or to reflect light while moving. Primarily used in descriptive or poetic writing.

“The sunlight glanced off the surface of the lake.”

“The morning sun glanced across the polished marble floors, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a very quick look at something.

n. a brief or cursory act of looking. Frequently used in the prepositional phrase 'at a glance'.

“One glance at his face told me that he was angry.”

“A quick glance at the spreadsheet revealed several significant accounting errors that had previously gone unnoticed.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. a hit that strikes something from the side rather than directly.

n. an impact or stroke that hits a surface at an angle rather than head-on.

“The car only suffered a slight glance from the falling branch.”

“The boxer avoided a direct hit, taking only a glancing blow to the shoulder that did little to slow his momentum.”