twinkle
verbnounattested in dialogue
- //ˈtwɪŋ.kəl//
To shine with a flickering light; to glimmer.
verb
- 1
To shine with a flickering light; to glimmer.
We could see the lights of the village twinkling in the distance.
These stars do not twinkle when viewed through telescopes that have large apertures.
The western sky twinkled with stars.
As the train rumbled slowly over the Forth Bridge, the western sky was aflame with a particularly gorgeous sunset, and lights were twinkling from the small craft riding at anchor on the calm waters of the firth.
- 2
To be bright with delight.
His shrewd little eyes twinkled roguishly.
- 3
To bat, blink or wink the eyes.
She smiled and gave a little nod and twinkled her eyes[…]
The Owl Fell a Moping and Twinkling.
- 4
To flit to and fro.
A butterfly twinkled among the vines[…]
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”).
noun
- 1
A sparkle or glimmer of light.
Soon the rocket was out of sight, and the flame was only seen as a tiny twinkle of light.
- 2
A sparkle of delight in the eyes.
He was a rotund, jolly man with a twinkle in his eye.
One of thoſe archers cloſely I did ſpy, / ayming his arrovv at my very hart: / vvhen ſuddenly vvith tvvincle of her eye, / the Damzell broke his miſintended dart.
- 3
A flitting movement.
I saw the twinkle of white feet,
- 4
A brief moment; a twinkling.
- 5
The female genitalia.
The popular Swedish cartoon song about genitals was translated as "Willie and Twinkle".
Forms
- plural
- twinkles
- past tense
- twinkled
- past participle
- twinkled
- present participle
- twinkling
- third person singular
- twinkles
twinkle · To shine with a flickering light; to glimmer.
twins · A woman's breasts.Twins · The constellation and zodiacal sign Gemini.twist · A twisting force.