From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]