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 scintillascintilla; first used attributively in phrases tinsel satin, tinsel cloth
[tin-suh
l] 
noun, adjective, verb, -seled, -sel⋅ing or (especially British