Twinkle
/ˈtwɪŋ.kəl/
Meaning & Definition
noun
a brief or intermittent shining or flickering.
With a twinkle in his eye, he shared the secret.
a lively or cheerful expression.
There was a twinkle in her smile as she accepted the award.
verb
to shine with a flickering or sparkling light.
The stars twinkle brightly in the night sky.
to sparkle with brightness or to flash intermittently.
The diamonds on her necklace twinkle in the sunlight.
Etymology
Middle English twinklen, frequentative of twink, from Old English twincan 'to wink'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
twinkle in someone's eye
A gleam of joy or mischief in someone's expression.
a twinkle of hope
A small sign of hope or encouragement.
twinkle toes
A lively, light-footed person, often used to describe a dancer.
Related Words
sparkle
to give off flashes of light
glimmer
to shine faintly or unsteadily
Slang Meanings
to flirt or show interest in someone in a playful way
He was definitely twinkling with that girl at the party.
to be full of energy or excitement
After that news, he's been twinkling all day!