Word
twinkle
Phoneticstwin·kle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtwɪŋkəɫ/
UK/twˈɪŋkəl/
Definitions
01to shine with flickering light
B1 · Intermediate
v. to shine with a light that changes from bright to faint very quickly.
v. to emit or reflect light in an intermittent or flickering manner.
“We sat on the balcony and watched the city lights twinkle in the distance.”
“From the high mountain pass, the distant village lamps appeared to twinkle through the thin, freezing air.”
02eyes showing amusement
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. when your eyes look bright because you are happy, amused, or being playful.
v. to exhibit a bright, sparkling appearance in the eyes, typically signifying amusement, mischief, or joy.
“His eyes began to twinkle as he prepared to tell a funny story.”
“The professor's eyes would twinkle whenever a student challenged his theories with a particularly clever argument.”
03a flickering light
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small, quick flash of light.
n. a brief or intermittent spark or glimmer of light.
“There was a tiny twinkle of light coming from the lighthouse on the horizon.”
“The steady twinkle of the satellite moving across the night sky caught the astronomer's attention.”
04a playful look
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a bright, happy look in someone's eyes.
n. a sparkling quality in the eyes that suggests amusement or a secret joke.
“She had a mischievous twinkle in her eye when she handed me the gift.”
“Despite his stern voice, the subtle twinkle in his eyes revealed that he was not actually angry.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Etymology
From Middle English twinclen, twynclen, from Old English twinclian (“to twinkle”), equivalent to twink (“to wink; blink; twinkle”) + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare German zwinkern (“to wink; twinkle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/twinkle