TWINKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does twinkle mean? 

• TWINKLE (noun)
  The noun TWINKLE has 2 senses:

1. a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash

2. merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance

  Familiarity information: TWINKLE used as a noun is rare.

• TWINKLE (verb)
  The verb TWINKLE has 2 senses:

1. gleam or glow intermittently

2. emit or reflect light in a flickering manner

  Familiarity information: TWINKLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TWINKLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

scintillation; sparkling; twinkle

Hypernyms ("twinkle" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Derivation:

twinkle (gleam or glow intermittently)

twinkle (emit or reflect light in a flickering manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

light; spark; sparkle; twinkle

Context example:

there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes

Hypernyms ("twinkle" is a kind of...):

verve; vitality (an energetic style)

aspect; expression; face; facial expression; look (the feelings expressed on a person's face)

Derivation:

twinkly (smiling with happiness or optimism)

• TWINKLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they twinkle    ... he / she / it twinkles   
Past simple: twinkled   
Past participle: twinkled   
-ing form: twinkling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Gleam or glow intermittently

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

blink; flash; twinkle; wink; winkle

Context example:

The lights were flashing

Hypernyms (to "twinkle" is one way to...):

radiate (cause to be seen by emitting light as if in rays)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "twinkle"):

flick; flicker (flash intermittently)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

Lights twinkle on the horizon
The horizon is twinkleing with lights

Derivation:

twinkle (a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash)

twinkler (an object that emits or reflects light in an intermittent flickering manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Emit or reflect light in a flickering manner

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

scintillate; twinkle; winkle

Context example:

Does a constellation twinkle more brightly than a single star?

Hypernyms (to "twinkle" is one way to...):

beam; shine (emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light)

Verb group:

scintillate (give off)

Domain category:

celestial body; heavenly body (natural objects visible in the sky)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

The coins twinkle

Derivation:

twinkle (a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash)

twinkler (an object that emits or reflects light in an intermittent flickering manner)

 Context examples 

The Premier looked at Holmes with twinkling eyes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We had it in, in a twinkling, and immediately applied ourselves to carrying Mr. Micawber's idea into effect.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“They might round upon us in a twinkle of an eye if we was seen to hurry.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Our young companion looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Well, I did it to please Amy," began Laurie, with a twinkle that made Jo exclaim...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Good-bye, and thank you very much," returned the girl; and the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

She paused and regarded Martin with twinkling eyes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

They would smile, twinkle their eyes, shake their heads, and there was the end of it.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His broad, brown face was lighted up by a continual smile, and he looked slowly from side to side with eyes which twinkled and shone with delight.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“What’s up, then?” asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)