verb (used without object)
1.
to close and open one or both eyes quickly.
2.
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.
3.
(of the eyes) to close and open thus; blink.
4.
to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle: The city lights winked in the distance.
verb (used with object)
5.
to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly; execute or give (a wink).
6.
to drive or force by winking (usually followed by back or away ): She attempted to wink back the tears.
7.
to signal or convey by a wink.
00:10
Wink
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
noun
Verb phrases 8.
an act of winking.
9.
a winking movement, especially of one eye in giving a hint or signal.
10.
a hint or signal given by winking.
11.
the time required for winking once; an instant or twinkling: I'll be there in a wink.
12.
a little flash of light; twinkle.
14.
wink at, to ignore deliberately, as to avoid the necessity of taking action: to wink at minor offenses.
Origin:
before 900; (v.) Middle English winken, Old English wincian; cognate with German winken to wave, signal; (noun) Middle English: nap, derivative of the v.
before 900; (v.) Middle English winken, Old English wincian; cognate with German winken to wave, signal; (noun) Middle English: nap, derivative of the v.
Related forms
wink·ing·ly, adverb
un·wink·ing, adjective
Synonyms
1. Wink, blink refer to rapid motions of the eyelid. To wink is to close and open either one or both eyelids with a rapid motion. To blink suggests a sleepy, dazed, or dazzled condition in which it is difficult to focus the eyes or see clearly: Bright sun makes one blink. 4. sparkle.
1. Wink, blink refer to rapid motions of the eyelid. To wink is to close and open either one or both eyelids with a rapid motion. To blink suggests a sleepy, dazed, or dazzled condition in which it is difficult to focus the eyes or see clearly: Bright sun makes one blink. 4. sparkle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To wink
Collins
World English Dictionary
wink1 (wɪŋk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (intr) to close and open one eye quickly, deliberately, or in an exaggerated fashion to convey friendliness, etc |
| 2. | to close and open (an eye or the eyes) momentarily |
| 3. | (tr; |
| 4. | (tr) to signal with a wink |
| 5. | (intr) (of a light) to gleam or flash intermittently |
| —n | |
| 6. | a winking movement, esp one conveying a signal, etc, or such a signal |
| 7. | an interrupted flashing of light |
| 8. | a brief moment of time; instant |
| 9. | informal See also forty winks the smallest amount, esp of sleep |
| 10. | informal (Brit) tip the wink to give a hint |
| [Old English wincian; related to Old Saxon wincon, Old High German winchan, German winken to wave. See | |
| wink2 (wɪŋk) | |
| —n | |
| a disc used in the game of tiddlywinks | |
| [C20: shortened from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
wink
O.E. wincian "to nod, wink," from P.Gmc. *wenkanan (cf. Du. wenken, O.H.G. winkan, Ger. winken), a gradational variant of the root of O.H.G. wankon "to stagger, totter," O.N. vakka "to stray, hover," from PIE *weng- "to bend, curve." The meaning "close an eye as a hint or signal" is first recorded c.1100;
that of "close one's eyes to fault or irregularity" first attested c.1480. The noun is recorded from c.1300; meaning "very brief moment of time" is attested from 1585.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
wink (wĭngk)
v. winked, wink·ing, winks
To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion.
To close and open the eyelids of both eyes; blink.
A quick closing and opening of the eyelids; a blink.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| WINK windowed eat-in kitchen |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
wink
In addition to the idiom beginning with wink, also see forty winks; quick as a wink; sleep a wink.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
It's a tingly feeling that starts in the hands, moves toward the wallet, and concludes with a wink.
Wink was charged with two misdemeanor counts of political solicitation by a public employee.
While this is objectively interesting, the cutesy wink to the reader at the end is both predictable and patronizing.
Acknowledging my dishonesty with a wink didn't make it less a lie.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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