Word
tingle
Phoneticstin·gle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɪŋɡəɫ/
UK/tˈɪŋɡəl/
Definitions
01physical sensation
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to have a feeling like many small needles are lightly touching your skin.
v. to experience a slight prickling or stinging sensation, typically caused by cold, returning circulation, or skin irritation.
“My fingers began to tingle as they warmed up after the long walk in the snow.”
“After sitting in the same position for an hour, his foot began to tingle with the familiar sensation of returning blood flow.”
Usage
Intransitive; often used with 'with' to describe the cause.
02emotional excitement
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to feel a sudden glow of excitement or fear in your body.
v. to experience a physical manifestation of strong emotion, such as excitement, anticipation, or trepidation.
“She felt her skin tingle with excitement as the lights in the theatre went down.”
“The young violinist felt her spine tingle as the conductor raised his baton for the opening notes of the concerto.”
03a prickling feeling
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a slight stinging or prickling feeling on your skin or in your body.
n. a prickling or mildly stinging physical sensation; a frisson.
“He felt a slight tingle in his hands when he touched the cold metal.”
“A sudden tingle of fear ran down his back when he realized he was being followed through the empty park.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“When she was talking to new people, heat would rise in her face and her hands would begin to tingle.” “If you close your eyes and think about a time you experienced a tingle of pleasure, chances are you’re remembering a sexual experience, or something delicious you’ve eaten.” Etymology
From Middle English tinglen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Middle English tingen (“to tink”) + -len, equivalent to ting + -le. Alternatively, possibly a variant of Middle English tinclen (“to tinkle”) or from Old English tinclian (“to tickle”). More at tinkle. Compare also West Frisian tingelje (“to tinkle”), Dutch tingelen (“to tinkle, jingle”).
cognate with the Middle High German zingel
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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