ENGLISH
REFERENCE

twinkling

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtwɪŋkəɫɪŋ// UK //twˈɪŋklɪŋ// twin·kling

n. the way a light or a star shines with a quick, bright flash. It can also describe the way someone's eyes look when they are happy or smiling.

n. the act of flashing or flickering with a bright, quick light; also refers to the sparkling quality of a person's eyes. Often used to describe the visual effect of distant stars or the expression of amusement.


SIMPLE

The twinkling of the stars was beautiful tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

She looked at him with a twinkling in her eye that suggested she was hiding a secret.

COMPLEX

The poet described the twilight sky as a canvas of twinkling lights, each star a distant sun whose light had traveled for centuries to reach the observer's eye.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English twynkelynge, equivalent to twinkle + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English twynkelyng, twynkelynge, equivalent to twinkle + -ing.

Idioms1 entry

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