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brighten

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
bright·en  (brtn)
tr. & intr.v. bright·ened, bright·en·ing, bright·ens
To make or become bright or brighter.

brighten·er n.

brighten [ˈbraɪtən]
vb
1. to make or become bright or brighter
2. to make or become cheerful
brightener  n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.brighten - make lighter or brighter; "The paint will brighten the room"
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
darken - make dark or darker; "darken a room"
2.brighten - become clear; "The sky cleared after the storm"

brighten
verb
1. cheer up, rally, take heart, perk up, buck up (informal), become cheerful Seeing him, she seemed to brighten a little.
cheer up sadden, blacken, become angry, look black, become gloomy, go crook (Austral. & N.Z. slang)
2. light up, shine, glow, gleam, clear up, lighten, enliven Her tearful eyes brightened with interest.
light up shadow, shade, dull, obscure, dim, overshadow, blacken, becloud, cloud over or up
3. enliven, animate, make brighter, vitalize Planted tubs brightened the area outside the door.
4. improve, pick up, rally, look up (informal), perk up, gain strength, take a turn for the better (informal) It is undeniable that the economic picture is brightening.
5. become brighter, light up, glow, gleam, clear up The sky above the ridge of the mountains brightened.
Translations
brighten [ˈbraɪtn] (also brighten up)
A. VT
1. (= make lighter) [+ room] → dar más luz a, iluminar más (TV) [+ picture] → dar brillo a
2. (= make more cheerful) [+ room] → alegrar; [+ situation] → mejorar
B. VI
1. [person] → animarse, alegrarse; [eyes] → iluminarse, brillar
2. [weather] → despejarse; [prospects] → mejorar
brighten [ˈbraɪtən]
vt
(= add colour to) → égayer
(= make lighter) → éclaircir
(= improve) [+ prospects] → améliorer
vi
(= become happier) [face] → s'illuminer; [eyes] → s'allumer; [expression] → s'égayer
[weather, sky] → s'éclaircir
[prospects, situation] → s'améliorer
brighten up
vi
[person] → s'égayer
[weather] → s'éclaircir
[prospects] → s'améliorer
vt (= add colour to) → égayer
[make more cheerful] → animer
bright lights npllumières fpl
brighten (up)
vt sep
(= make cheerful) spirits, personaufmuntern, aufheitern; room, atmosphereaufhellen, aufheitern; conversationbeleben; prospects, situationverbessern
(= make bright) colour, hairaufhellen; metalaufpolieren
vi
(weather, sky)sich aufklären or aufheitern
(person)fröhlicher werden; (face)sich aufhellen or aufheitern; (eyes)aufleuchten; (prospects)sich verbessern, freundlicher werden; (future)freundlicher aussehen
brighten [ˈbraɪtn]
1. vt (also brighten up) (colour) → ravvivare; (television picture) → alzare la luminosità di; (house, room) → rallegrare; (situation) → migliorare
a child will brighten up your life → un figlio allieterà la tua vita
2. vi (also brighten up) (person) → rianimarsi, rallegrarsi; (eyes, expression) → illuminarsi; (weather) → schiarirsi

brighten [ˈbraɪtn]
1. vt (also brighten up) (colour) → ravvivare; (television picture) → alzare la luminosità di; (house, room) → rallegrare; (situation) → migliorare
a child will brighten up your life → un figlio allieterà la tua vita
2. vi (also brighten up) (person) → rianimarsi, rallegrarsi; (eyes, expression) → illuminarsi; (weather) → schiarirsi


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
And later, when the story of Christ had come to soften men's hearts and brighten men's lives, the stories told of faith and purity and gentleness.
"Of course, ma'am; it was only that I thought a little girl here might--might brighten things up for you," she faltered.
Barkis had always liked me and admired me; that he had often talked of me, before he fell into a stupor; and that she believed, in case of his coming to himself again, he would brighten up at sight of me, if he could brighten up at any earthly thing.
 
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