Glitter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Glittered; p. pr. & vb. n. Glittering.]
Etymology: [OE. gliteren; akin to Sw. glittra, Icel. glitra, glita, AS. glitenian, OS. glitan, OHG. glizzan, G. gleissen, Goth. glitmunjan, and also to E. glint, glisten, and prob. glance, gleam.]
1. To sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant and broken light or showy luster; to gleam; as, a glittering sword. The field yet glitters with the pomp of war. Dryden.
2. To be showy, specious, or striking, and hence attractive; as, the glittering scenes of a court.
Syn. -- To gleam; to glisten; to shine; to sparkle; to glare. See Gleam, Flash.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Glitter, n.
A bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage. Milton.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for glitter; he lists it under light.
Where he writes about it:
Glimmer, glitter, and shimmer denote wavering light. — from light
A gleam is not wavering, but transient or intermittent; a sudden gleam of light came through the half-open door; a glitter is a hard light; as, the glitter of burnished arms. — from light