Glare vs. Flare — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 13, 2024
Glare is intense, blinding light causing discomfort, whereas flare is a spreading or bursting light with varying intensity and purpose.
Difference Between Glare and Flare
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Glare is a visual phenomenon characterized by a bright, often harsh light that makes it difficult to see and can cause discomfort or even temporary blindness. Flare, on the other hand, refers to light that spreads or bursts outward, often used intentionally in photography or signaling, and can vary in intensity and purpose. While glare is generally unwanted and results from excessive brightness in the field of vision, flare can be both unintentional or a designed effect, enhancing aesthetics or serving as a visual alert.
Glare is commonly encountered in everyday situations, such as driving into the sun or looking at a poorly positioned computer screen, where the intensity of the light source overwhelms the visual system. Flares are often seen as bursts of light in photographs, created by a light source directly hitting the camera lens, or as emergency signals, where bright, colorful lights are used to attract attention for rescue operations.
The mechanisms behind glare involve direct or reflected light entering the eye, leading to reduced visibility and potential eye strain or damage. Flares, however, result from light diffraction, reflection, or even intentional creation using pyrotechnics or special lens effects, serving varied purposes from artistic expression to emergency assistance.
In terms of mitigation, glare can be reduced or avoided by using polarized sunglasses, adjusting lighting sources, or employing anti-glare screens. Flare, when undesired, can be minimized through the use of lens hoods in photography or careful positioning of light sources. However, when flare is used intentionally, it is carefully crafted to achieve a desired visual impact or function.
While both glare and flare are related to the behavior and perception of light, their implications, contexts, and management strategies differ significantly. Glare is primarily a nuisance or hazard that affects visibility and comfort, requiring measures to reduce its impact. Flare, conversely, spans a range of applications from nuisance in visual fields to a critical tool in visual communication and artistic creation.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Intense light causing discomfort or blindness.
Light spreading or bursting with varying purposes.
Typical Causes
Sunlight, reflections, artificial lights.
Lens reflections, emergency signals, design.
Effect on Vision
Reduces visibility, can cause eye strain.
Can enhance aesthetics or signal for help.
Mitigation
Polarized sunglasses, anti-glare screens.
Lens hoods, positioning, intentional use.
Purpose
Generally unwanted.
Can be intentional or unintentional.
Compare with Definitions
Glare
Causes discomfort without reducing visibility.
High beams from oncoming traffic at night.
Flare
Used to convey messages or warnings.
Signal flares can indicate a ship's position at sea.
Glare
Light directly from a source.
Driving east at sunrise causes direct glare.
Flare
Widening out in shape.
Flare jeans widen from the knee downward.
Glare
Reduce glare on displays.
Anti-glare screens help reduce eye strain from computer monitors.
Flare
Used for signaling in distress.
Emergency flares can save lives by signaling for help.
Glare
Light reflected off surfaces.
Sunlight reflecting off snow causes significant glare.
Flare
Sudden eruption of energy on the sun's surface.
Solar flares can disrupt earth's radio communications.
Glare
Severely reduces visibility.
Sun glare off a wet road can temporarily blind drivers.
Flare
Light scattering in lens systems.
Lens flare in photos can add a dramatic effect.
Glare
To stare fixedly and angrily.
Flare
A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications.
Glare
To shine intensely and blindingly
A hot sun glared down on the desert.
Flare
To flame up with a bright, wavering light.
Glare
To be conspicuous; stand out obtrusively
The headline glared from the page.
Flare
To burst into intense, sudden flame.
Glare
To express by staring angrily
He glared his disapproval.
Flare
To erupt or intensify suddenly
Tempers flared at the meeting. His allergies flared up.
Glare
A fierce or angry stare.
Flare
To become suddenly angry. Used with up
He flared up when she alluded to his financial difficulties.
Glare
An intense, blinding light
Under the glare of the spotlights.
Flare
To make a sudden angry verbal attack. Used with out
Flared out at his accusers.
Glare
Overwhelming attention or intrusiveness
The glare of publicity.
Flare
To expand or open outward in shape
A skirt that flares from the waist.
Nostrils that flared with anger.
Glare
A sheet or surface of glassy and very slippery ice.
Flare
To cause to flame up.
Glare
(uncountable) An intense, blinding light.
Flare
To signal with a blaze of light.
Glare
Showy brilliance; gaudiness.
Flare
A brief wavering blaze of light.
Glare
An angry or fierce stare.
Flare
A device that produces a bright light for signaling, illumination, or identification.
Glare
(telephony) A call collision; the situation where an incoming call occurs at the same time as an outgoing call.
Flare
An outbreak, as of emotion or activity.
Glare
(US) A smooth, bright, glassy surface.
A glare of ice
Flare
An expanding or opening outward.
Glare
A viscous, transparent substance; glair.
Flare
An unwanted reflection within an optical system or the resultant fogging of the image.
Glare
(intransitive) To stare angrily.
He walked in late, with the teacher glaring at him the whole time.
Flare
A solar flare.
Glare
(intransitive) To shine brightly.
The sun glared down on the desert sand.
Flare
(Football) A short pass to a back running toward the sideline.
Glare
(intransitive) To be bright and intense, or ostentatiously splendid.
Flare
(Baseball) A fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield.
Glare
(transitive) To shoot out, or emit, as a dazzling light.
Flare
An area of redness on the skin surrounding the primary site of infection or irritation.
Glare
Smooth and bright or translucent; glary
Skating on glare ice
Flare
A sudden worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
Treating an arthritis flare.
Glare
To shine with a bright, dazzling light.
The cavern glares with new-admitted light.
Flare
A sudden bright light.
Glare
To look with fierce, piercing eyes; to stare earnestly, angrily, or fiercely.
And eye that scorcheth all it glares upon.
Flare
A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
Solar flare
Glare
To be bright and intense, as certain colors; to be ostentatiously splendid or gay.
She glares in balls, front boxes, and the ring.
Flare
A type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light without an explosion, used to attract attention in an emergency, to illuminate an area, or as a decoy.
Flares were used to steer the traffic away from the accident.
The flares attracted the heat-seeking missiles.
Glare
To shoot out, or emit, as a dazzling light.
Every eyeGlared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire.
Flare
(oil industry) A flame produced by a burn-off of waste gas (flare gas) from a flare tower (or flare stack), typically at an oil refinery.
Glare
A bright, dazzling light; splendor that dazzles the eyes; a confusing and bewildering light.
The frame of burnished steel that cast a glare.
Flare
(figuratively) A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.
Glare
A fierce, piercing look or stare.
About them round,A lion now he stalks with fiery glare.
Flare
A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
During assembly of a flare tube fitting, a flare nut is used to secure the flared tubing’s tapered end to the also tapered fitting, producing a pressure-resistant, leak-tight seal.
That's a genuine early 70's flare on those pants.
Glare
A viscous, transparent substance. See Glair.
Flare
(nautical) The increase in width of most ship hulls with increasing height above the waterline.
Glare
A smooth, bright, glassy surface; as, a glare of ice.
Flare
(in plural) Bell-bottom trousers.
Glare
Smooth and bright or translucent; - used almost exclusively of ice; as, skating on glare ice.
Flare
(aviation) The transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
The captain executed the flare perfectly, and we lightly touched down.
Glare
Great brightness;
A glare of sunlight
The flowers were a blaze of color
Flare
(baseball) A low fly ball that is hit in the region between the infielders and the outfielders.
Jones hits a little flare to left that falls for a single.
Glare
An angry stare
Flare
(American football) A route run by the running back, releasing toward the sideline and then slightly arcing upfield looking for a short pass.
Glare
A focus of public attention;
He enjoyed being in the limelight
When Congress investigates it brings the full glare of publicity to the agency
Flare
(photography) lens flare
Glare
Look at with a fixed gaze;
The girl glared at the man who tried to make a pass at her
Flare
An inflammation such as of tendons (tendonitis) or joints (osteoarthritis).
Glare
Be sharply reflected;
The moon glared back at itself from the lake's surface
Flare
A breakdance move of someone helicoptering his torso on alternating arms.
Glare
Shine intensely;
The sun glared down on us
Flare
(transitive) To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas (flare gas).
Flare
(transitive) To cause inflammation; to inflame.
Flare
(ambitransitive) To open outward in shape.
The cat flared its nostrils while sniffing at the air. (transitive)
The cat’s nostrils flared when it sniffed at the air. (intransitive)
The building flared from the third through the seventh floors to occupy the airspace over the entrance plaza. (intransitive)
The sides of a bowl flare. (intransitive)
Flare
To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
Flare
(intransitive) To blaze brightly.
The blast furnace flared in the night.
Flare
(intransitive) To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
The candle flared in a sudden draught.
Flare
To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy.
Flare
To suddenly happen or intensify.
Flare up
Flare
To suddenly erupt in anger.
Flare up
Flare
To be exposed to too much light.
Flare
To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.
Flare
To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
Flare
To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively bright or showy.
With ribbons pendant, flaring about her head.
Flare
To be exposed to too much light.
Flaring in sunshine all the day.
Flare
To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular; as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare.
Flare
An unsteady, broad, offensive light.
Flare
A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.
Flare
A defect in a photographic objective such that an image of the stop, or diaphragm, appears as a fogged spot in the center of the developed negative.
Flare
Leaf of lard.
Flare
A shape that spreads outward;
The skirt had a wide flare
Flare
A sudden burst of flame
Flare
A burst of light used to communicate or illuminate
Flare
Reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation
Flare
A sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms;
A colitis flare
Infection can cause a lupus flare
Flare
A sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference
Flare
Am unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection)
Flare
A sudden outburst of emotion;
She felt a flare of delight
She could not control her flare of rage
Flare
A device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification
Flare
A short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines;
He threw a flare to the fullback who was tackled for a loss
Flare
(baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield
Flare
Burn brightly;
Every star seemed to flare with new intensity
Flare
Become flared and widen, usually at one end;
The bellbottom pants flare out
Flare
Shine with a sudden light;
The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
Flare
Erupt or intensify suddenly;
Unrest erupted in the country
Tempers flared at the meeting
The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism
Common Curiosities
What causes lens flare in photography?
Lens flare occurs when a strong light source directly enters the lens, scattering and creating visible artifacts in the image.
Can glare be beneficial in any way?
Typically, glare is considered a nuisance or hazard, but it can sometimes highlight the need for better lighting management or eye protection.
What is glare?
Glare is intense and often uncomfortable light that impairs visibility, caused by overly bright sources or reflections.
How can glare affect driving?
Glare from the sun or headlights can temporarily blind drivers, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.
What safety precautions should be taken with emergency flares?
Handle with care, follow instructions closely, and ensure they are used in open, ventilated areas to avoid hazards.
What is flare?
Flare refers to light that spreads or bursts, often with aesthetic or signaling purposes, and varies in intensity.
Is flare always unwanted in photography?
No, photographers sometimes use lens flare creatively to add atmosphere, depth, or interest to their images.
Can glare damage the eyes?
Yes, prolonged exposure to intense glare can cause eye strain, temporary blindness, and long-term damage to vision.
How can glare be reduced in an office setting?
Using anti-glare screens, adjusting monitor positions away from direct light sources, and employing blinds or shades can reduce glare.
What role do signal flares play in maritime safety?
Signal flares are vital for maritime safety, used to mark positions or signal distress, aiding in rescue operations.
What's the difference between glare and brightness?
Glare is excessive brightness that causes discomfort or visual impairment, while brightness refers to the amount of light emitted or reflected by an object.
How does flare differ from a glow?
Flare is a specific light pattern, often with a source, while a glow is a diffuse, often uniform light emission without a visible source.
How do emergency flares work?
Emergency flares produce a bright, colorful light through the combustion of pyrotechnic compounds, making them visible from a distance.
Why do some people prefer flare jeans?
Flare jeans are preferred for their style, comfort, and the way they balance body proportions, offering a retro yet timeless look.
Can polarized sunglasses reduce all types of glare?
Polarized sunglasses are effective against glare, especially reflections from horizontal surfaces, but may not eliminate all glare types.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
