twin·kle (twĭng'kəl) v.
twin·kled, twin·kling, twin·kles
v.
intr.
To shine with slight, intermittent gleams, as distant lights or stars; flicker; glimmer. See Synonyms at flash. To be bright or sparkling, as with merriment or delight: eyes that twinkled with joy. To blink or wink the eyes. See Synonyms at blink. To move about or to and fro rapidly and gracefully; flit. v.
tr. To emit (light) in slight, intermittent gleams. n. A slight, intermittent gleam of light; a sparkling flash; a glimmer. A sparkle of merriment or delight in the eye. A brief interval; a twinkling. A rapid to-and-fro movement.
[Middle English twinklen, from Old English twinclian, frequentative of twincan, to blink.] twin'kler n., twink'ly adj. |