twinkle
twinkle Lexical Profile
twinkle Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To shine with a gleam that varies repeatedly between bright and faint (especially of a star or distant light).
"Thousands of stars began to twinkle in the clear desert sky after sunset."
To sparkle or shine brightly with amusement, delight, or good humor (of a person's eyes).
"Her eyes twinkled with merriment as she watched the children unwrap their surprise gifts."
To move lightly, rapidly, and nimbly (especially of a dancer's feet).
"The ballerina's feet twinkled across the polished stage during the lively solo."
• noun
A gleam or light that flashes intermittently; a sparkle or glimmer.
"The faint twinkle of distant harbor lights guided the fishermen back to shore."
A bright, animated expression in a person's eyes indicating amusement, delight, or mischief.
"My grandfather always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye whenever he told stories about his youth."
A very short period of time; an instant or moment.
"The clever magician made the silver coin vanish in a twinkle."
• Rhymes for twinkle
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'twinclian', meaning 'to wink, blink, or sparkle', formed with the frequentative suffix '-le' from a Germanic base meaning to wink or twitch.