scintillate

verb (used without object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

1. to emit sparks.
2. to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brilliance.
3. to twinkle, as the stars.
4. Electronics. (of a spot of light or image on a radar display) to shift rapidly around a mean position.
5. Physics.
   1. (of the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an electromagnetic wave) to fluctuate in a random manner.
   2. (of an energetic photon or particle) to produce a flash of light in a phosphor by striking it.

verb (used with object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

6. to emit as sparks; flash forth.

verb (mainly intr)

1. (also tr) to give off (sparks); sparkle; twinkle
2. to be animated or brilliant
3. physics to give off flashes of light as a result of the impact of particles or photons

v.1620s, from Latin scintillatus, past participle of scintillare “to sparkle, glitter, gleam, flash,” from scintilla “spark” (see scintilla). Related: Scintillated; scintillating.