jingle

American  

[jing-guhl] / ˈdʒɪŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

jingled, jingling

1. to make clinking or tinkling sounds, as do coins, keys, or other light, resonant metal objects when coming into contact or being struck together repeatedly.

   The keys on his belt jingled as he walked.

2. to move or proceed with such sounds.

   The sleigh, decorated with bells, jingled along the snowy road.

3. to sound in a light, repetitious manner suggestive of this, as verse, a sequence of words, or piece of music.

4. to make rhymes.

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verb (used with object)

jingled, jingling

1. to cause to jingle.

   He jingled the coins in his pocket.

noun

1. a tinkling or clinking sound, as of small bells or of small pieces of resonant metal repeatedly struck one against another.

2. something that makes such a sound, as a small bell or a metal pendant.

3. a catchy succession of like or repetitious sounds, as in music or verse.

4. a piece of verse or a short song having such a catchy succession of sounds, usually of a light or humorous character.

   an advertising jingle.

5. Irish English and Australian. a loosely sprung, two-wheeled, roofed carriage, usually used as a hackney coach.

jingle British  

/ ˈdʒɪŋɡəl /

verb

1. to ring or cause to ring lightly and repeatedly

2. (intr) to sound in a manner suggestive of jingling

   a jingling verse

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noun

1. a sound of metal jingling

   the jingle of the keys

2. a catchy and rhythmic verse, song, etc, esp one used in advertising

Other Word Forms

• jingler noun
• jinglingly adverb
• jingly adjective

Etymology

Origin of jingle

1350–1400; Middle English gynglen, apparently imitative; compare Dutch jengelen; -le

Example Sentences

The single opens with the sound of jingle bells being briskly rung.

From Salon

Store workers blow giant colorful bubbles and throw boomerangs around, while jingles from electric toys and whirls from their wheels mingle with the chatter of shoppers’ conversations.

From The Wall Street Journal

In television interviews, his wife and nine children sang campaign jingles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its catchy jingle, which builds to the tagline "Everyone Loves Marineland," was a staple on Canadian television.

From Barron's

He noted that the last joke he’d written dated back to when his twin sons were babies — a bit about jingling his car keys to make them laugh — which he physically demonstrated during the appearance.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clang
• clatter
• clink