Glare vs glair

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Grammarist

Glare and glair are are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words glare and glair, the word origins of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences.

Glare used as a noun may mean 1.) a bright, dazzling light, especially when it reflects off a mirror or metal surface; 2.) a hard, angry, intense look. Glare used as a verb may mean 1.) to emit a bright, dazzling light; 2.) to stare at someone in a hard, angry, intense manner. Related words are glares, glared, glaring. The word glare is derived from the Old English word glær.

Glair is a substance made from egg white. It is often used as a glue in bookbinding or in mixed drinks. The word glair is derived from the Latin word claria, referring to the white of an egg. Most often, the word glair is seen in common usage as a misspelling.

Examples

Screen burn: why the glare from your computer could be ageing your skin (The Guardian)

The lenses are “100 percent UV category three,” which means they block out glare and filter all UV light that comes through to protect your eyes. (New York Magazine)

Gold powder was often mixed with glair, that is to say an egg white for binding, or perhaps gum, and then buffed with either a tooth or a stone to give it that stunning gilded sheen. (Forbes Magazine)

For tequila lovers, the complex Mekishiko Negroni uses Espolon Blanco tequila, Campari, sweet vermouth infused with umeboshi (pickled Japanese plums), lemon juice, egg glair, and bamboo salt. (The Miami New Times)