Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Gleam \Gleam\, v. t.
   To shoot out (flashes of light, etc.).

         Dying eyes gleamed forth their ashy lights. --Shak.

Gleam \Gleam\, v. i. [Cf. OE. glem birdlime, glue, phlegm, and
   E. englaimed.] (Falconry)
   To disgorge filth, as a hawk.

Gleam \Gleam\, n. [OE. glem, gleam, AS. gl[ae]m, prob. akin to
   E. glimmer, and perh. to Gr. ? warm, ? to warm. Cf.
   {Glitter}.]
   1. A shoot of light; a small stream of light; a beam; a ray;
      a glimpse.

            Transient unexpected gleams of joi.   --Addison.

            At last a gleam Of dawning light turned thitherward
            in haste His [Satan's] traveled steps. --Milton.

            A glimmer, and then a gleam of light. --Longfellow.

   2. Brightness; splendor.

            In the clear azure gleam the flocks are seen.
                                                  --Pope.

Gleam \Gleam\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gleamed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Gleaming}.]
   1. To shoot, or dart, as rays of light; as, at the dawn,
      light gleams in the east.

   2. To shine; to cast light; to glitter.

   Syn: To {Gleam}, {Glimmer}, {Glitter}.

   Usage: To gleam denotes a faint but distinct emission of
          light. To glimmer describes an indistinct and unsteady
          giving of light. To glitter imports a brightness that
          is intense, but varying. The morning light gleams upon
          the earth; a distant taper glimmers through the mist;
          a dewdrop glitters in the sun. See {Flash}.

Source : WordNet®

gleam
     n 1: an appearance of reflected light [syn: {gleaming}, {glow}, {lambency}]
     2: a flash of light (especially reflected light) [syn: {gleaming},
         {glimmer}]
     v 1: be shiny, as if wet; "His eyes were glistening" [syn: {glitter},
           {glisten}, {glint}, {shine}]
     2: shine brightly, like a star or a light [syn: {glimmer}]
     3: appear briefly; "A terrible thought gleamed in her mind"