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tinsel

 - 3 dictionary results

tin⋅sel

[tin-suhl] noun, adjective, verb, -seled, -sel⋅ing or (especially British) -selled, -sel⋅ling.
–noun
1. a glittering metallic substance, as copper or brass, in thin sheets, used in pieces, strips, threads, etc., to produce a sparkling effect cheaply.
2. a metallic yarn, usually wrapped around a core yarn of silk, rayon, or cotton, for weaving brocade or lamé.
3. anything showy or attractive with little or no real worth; showy pretense: The actress was tired of the fantasy and tinsel of her life.
4. Obsolete. a fabric, formerly in use, of silk or wool interwoven with threads of gold, silver, or, later, copper.
–adjective
5. consisting of or containing tinsel.
6. showy; gaudy; tawdry.
–verb (used with object)
7. to adorn with tinsel.
8. to adorn with anything glittering.
9. to make showy or gaudy.

Origin:
1495–1505; by aphesis < MF estincelle (OF estincele) a spark, flash < VL *stincilla, metathetic var. of L scintilla scintilla; first used attributively in phrases tinsel satin, tinsel cloth


tin⋅sel⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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tin·sel   (tĭn'səl)   
n.  
  1. Very thin sheets, strips, or threads of a glittering material used as a decoration.

  2. Something sparkling or showy but basically valueless: the tinsel of parties and promotional events.

adj.  
  1. Made of or decorated with tinsel.

  2. Gaudy, showy, and basically valueless.

tr.v.   tin·seled or tin·selled, tin·sel·ing or tin·sel·ling, tin·sels
  1. To decorate with or as if with tinsel: tinsel a Christmas tree.

  2. To give a false sparkle to.


[Middle English tineseile, from Old French estincelle, spangle, spark; see stencil.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tinsel 
c.1448, "a kind of cloth made with interwoven gold or silver thread," from M.Fr. estincelle "spark, spangle" (see stencil). Meaning "very thin sheets or strips of shiny metal" is recorded from 1593. Fig. sense of "anything showy with little real worth" is from 1660, suggested from at least 1595. First recorded use of Tinseltown for "Hollywood" is from 1975.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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