English Explanatory Dictionary

twinkle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To shine with a flickering light; to glimmer.
  2. To be bright with delight.
  3. To bat, blink or wink the eyes.
  4. To flit to and fro.
noun
  1. A sparkle or glimmer of light.
  2. A sparkle of delight in the eyes.
  3. A flitting movement.
  4. A brief moment; a twinkling.
  5. The female genitalia.

Pronunciation

/ˈtwɪŋ.kəl/ en-us-twinkle.ogg

Word forms

twinkle twinkles twinkling twinkled

Etymology

From Middle English twinclen, twynclen, from Old English twinclian (“to twinkle”), equivalent to twink (“to wink; blink; twinkle”) + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare German zwinkern (“to wink; twinkle”).

Synonyms

flicker fulgurate glimmer scintillate shimmer wink sparkle nictitate flirt flutter glint glister spark twink flit flitter instant moment twinkling bat of an eye bit blink of an eye crack eyeblink flash glimpse half a mo jiff jiffy jot minute mo New York minute New York second no time sec second span split-second spurt stound tick trice twinkle while foo-foo minnie axe wound bearded clam beaver berk bonne bouche box bun bush cavern clunge coin slot cooch coochie

Derived words

twinkle out twinkler twinkle in one's daddy's eye twinkle in one's father's eye twinkle-toed twinkle toes
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