glowworm

/ˈɡloʊˌwɜrm/
noun
  1. A type of insect or beetle whose body produces a greenish or yellowish light from its abdomen, especially the larva or wingless female of certain firefly species.
    • The children caught a glowworm in a jar and watched its soft light pulse in the dark.
    • A single glowworm can produce enough light to read a book by, if you hold it close enough.
    • At night, the forest floor sparkled with tiny glowworms hiding under the leaves.
  2. A person or thing that glows or shines softly, often used figuratively to describe something small but bright or hopeful.
    • In the dark hallway, the nightlight was a tiny glowworm guiding her steps.
    • The old lantern was a glowworm of memory, casting a warm glow on the dusty room.
    • Her smile was a glowworm in the gloom of the rainy afternoon.
What does "glowworm" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean