glowtime
glowtime (noun) /ˈɡloʊtaɪm/
Definition
The period of the day when the sun is near or below the horizon and the sky is lit in shades of orange, red, or pink; the transitional time between afternoon and night when daylight fades but darkness has not yet arrived.
Usage
"Let's meet up at glowtime."
"The streets are quieter during glowtime."
"There's something calming about a walk at glowtime."
Notes
- Refers to a duration, not a moment or event (contrast with sunset, which denotes the phenomenon of the sun disappearing below the horizon)
- Neutral in connotation — carries no sense of endings or decline (contrast with sunset, which is often used metaphorically to imply decline or expiration)
- Not poetic or literary in register; intended as an everyday, neutral term (contrast with twilight or gloaming)
- Approximate time: varies by season and latitude, roughly 30–90 minutes around sunset
Distinctions from related terms
| Term | Type | Sky color implied | Everyday register | Neutral connotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| evening | time of day (broad) | no | yes | yes |
| sunset | event / phenomenon | yes | yes | no |
| twilight | time of day | partial | no | yes |
| dusk | time of day | partial | partial | yes |
| glowtime | time of day | yes | yes | yes |
Etymology
Coined from glow (Old English glowan, to shine with heat or light) + time, to denote the time of day defined by the warm luminous glow of the sky around sunset.