glance

Glance is a quick, cursory look at something. As a noun, it denotes a brief sight or momentary glimpse. As a verb, to glance means to look quickly and often without focused attention. Glances are typically short, lasting a moment or two, and can be intentional or incidental.

Common usage includes phrases such as "take a glance at" or "catch a glimpse," and "at a glance" to indicate immediate perception or first impression. A person may glance over a document to skim it, or glance off a surface when light or impact is deflected, as in a glancing blow. The term can describe brief, peripheral observation rather than careful inspection.

In figurative language, "at a glance" signals immediate understanding or the need for further detail, while "glance away" implies avoidance or distraction. The word is often contrasted with stare, which connotes a longer, more deliberate look, whereas a glance is brief and casual.

In computing, Glance is the OpenStack image service used to catalog and serve virtual machine disk images and related metadata, enabling image discovery and management within a cloud infrastructure. This usage is distinct from its everyday sense and represents a proper noun within a software project.

Related terms include glimpse, peek, and stare. Glance thus covers both everyday actions of looking and specialized uses in technology, while retaining its core sense of a rapid, light touch of vision.