Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shine \Shine\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Shone} (? or ?; 277)
   (archaic {Shined}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shining}.] [OE. shinen,
   schinen, AS. sc[=i]nan; akin to D. schijnen, OFries.
   sk[=i]na, OS. & OHG. sc[=i]nan, G. scheinen, Icel. sk[=i]na,
   Sw. skina, Dan. skinne, Goth. skeinan, and perh. to Gr. ???
   shadow. [root]157. Cf. {Sheer} pure, and {Shimmer}.]
   1. To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady
      radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor; as, the sun
      shines by day; the moon shines by night.

            Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine. --Shak.

            God, who commanded the light to shine out of
            darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the
            light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
            face of Jesus Cghrist.                --2 Cor. iv.
                                                  6.

            Let thine eyes shine forth in their full luster.
                                                  --Denham.

   2. To be bright by reflection of light; to gleam; to be
      glossy; as, to shine like polished silver.

   3. To be effulgent in splendor or beauty. ``So proud she
      shined in her princely state.'' --Spenser.

            Once brightest shined this child of heat and air.
                                                  --Pope.

   4. To be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished; to exhibit
      brilliant intellectual powers; as, to shine in courts; to
      shine in conversation.

            Few are qualified to shine in company; but it in
            most men's power to be agreeable.     --Swift.

   {To make}, or {cause}, {the face to shine upon}, to be
      propitious to; to be gracious to. --Num. vi. 25.

Shining \Shin"ing\, n.
   Emission or reflection of light.

Shining \Shin"ing\, a.
   1. Emitting light, esp. in a continuous manner; radiant; as,
      shining lamps; also, bright by the reflection of light;
      as, shining armor. ``Fish . . . with their fins and
      shining scales.'' --Milton.

   2. Splendid; illustrious; brilliant; distinguished;
      conspicious; as, a shining example of charity.

   3. Having the surface smooth and polished; -- said of leaves,
      the surfaces of shells, etc.

   Syn: Glistening; bright; radiant; resplendent; effulgent;
        lustrous; brilliant; glittering; splendid; illustrious.
        

   Usage: {Shining}, {Brilliant}, {Sparking}. Shining describes
          the steady emission of a strong light, or the steady
          reflection of light from a clear or polished surface.
          Brilliant denotes a shining of great brightness, but
          with gleams or flashes. Sparkling implies a fitful,
          intense shining from radiant points or sparks, by
          which the eye is dazzled. The same distinctions obtain
          when these epithets are figuratively applied. A man of
          shining talents is made conspicious by possessing
          them; if they flash upon the mind with a peculiarly
          striking effect, we call them brilliant; if his
          brilliancy is marked by great vivacity and occasional
          intensity, he is sparkling.

                True paradise . . . inclosed with shining rock.
                                                  --Milton.

                Some in a brilliant buckle bind her waist, Some
                round her neck a circling light display. --Gay.

                His sparkling blade about his head he blest.
                                                  --Spenser.

Source : WordNet®

shining
     adj 1: marked by exceptional merit; "had shining virtues and few
            faults"; "a shining example"
     2: made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a
        sheen or glow; "bright silver candlesticks"; "a burnished
        brass knocker"; "she brushed her hair until it fell in
        lustrous auburn waves"; "rows of shining glasses"; "shiny
        black patents" [syn: {bright}, {burnished}, {lustrous}, {shiny}]
     3: abounding with sunlight; "a bright sunny day"; "one shining
        norming"- John Muir; "when it is warm and shiny" [syn: {bright},
         {shiny}, {sunshiny}, {sunny}]
     4: reflecting light; "glistening bodies of swimmers"; "the
        horse's glossy coat"; "lustrous auburn hair"; "saw the
        moon like a shiny dime on a deep blue velvet carpet";
        "shining white enamel" [syn: {glistening}, {glossy}, {lustrous},
         {sheeny}, {shiny}]

shining
     n : the work of making something shine by polishing it; "the
         shining of shoes provided a meager living" [syn: {polishing}]