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wink
1[ wingk ]
verb (used without object)
- to close and open one eye quickly as a hint or signal or with some sly meaning (often followed by at ):
She winked at him across the room.
- to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle:
The city lights winked in the distance.
Synonyms: sparkle
- to close and open one or both eyes quickly.
verb (used with object)
- to signal or convey by closing and opening one eye quickly:
Wink one eye if you need help later.
- to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly.
- to drive or force by opening and closing the eyes rapidly (usually followed by back or away ):
She attempted to wink back the tears.
noun
- a winking movement, especially of one eye in giving a hint or signal:
I gave the judges a wink of my eye to show my confidence.
- a hint or signal given by closing and opening one eye rapidly:
Her wink assured me the plan was still on.
- an act of closing and opening one eye rapidly.
- the time required for closing and opening the eyes once; an instant or twinkling:
I'll be there in a wink.
- a little flash of light; twinkle.
- the least bit:
I didn't sleep a wink last night.
verb phrase
- to ignore deliberately, as to avoid the necessity of taking action:
to wink at minor offenses.
wink
2[ wingk ]
noun
- a disk or similar small object used in tiddlywinks.
wink
1/ wɪŋk /
verb
- intr to close and open one eye quickly, deliberately, or in an exaggerated fashion to convey friendliness, etc
- to close and open (an eye or the eyes) momentarily
- tr; foll by away, back, etc to force away (tears, etc) by winking
- tr to signal with a wink
- intr (of a light) to gleam or flash intermittently
noun
- a winking movement, esp one conveying a signal, etc, or such a signal
- an interrupted flashing of light
- a brief moment of time; instant
- informal.the smallest amount, esp of sleep See also forty winks
- tip the wink informal.to give a hint
wink
2/ wɪŋk /
noun
- a disc used in the game of tiddlywinks
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Other Words From
- wink·ing·ly adverb
- un·wink·ing adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of wink1
Origin of wink2
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Word History and Origins
Origin of wink1
Origin of wink2
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Idioms and Phrases
In addition to the idiom beginning with wink , also see forty winks ; quick as a wink ; sleep a wink .Discover More
Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
It was another of the nudge, nudge, wink, wink jokes that summed up the entire enterprise.
But how could the most famous animal of our most beloved national park simply wink out?
And we also have to be careful to not do it in a way that feels cheap or just a wink.
“You just have to say it was off the table, instead of appealing to the wink-and-nod crowd” as he is doing.
To add insult to injury, Ronaldo seemed to wink at his bench after Rooney was sent off.
Aristide prayed that some Thaïs might come along, cast her spell upon him, and induce him to wink.
Alack, I cannot sleep a wink myself, so as sorrow loves sympathy, I came to have a chat with you.
Notwithstanding Mrs. Biggs's prediction that she would not sleep a wink, Eloise did sleep fairly well.
She laughed so hard that she blew the ashes out of her pipe, and they showered down over my face, and made me wink and sputter.
I shall be so afraid that the roof will tumble in, or somebody come down the chimney to catch me, that I shant sleep a wink.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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