nictitate

[ nik-ti-teyt ]
/ ˈnɪk tɪˌteɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR nictitate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), nic·ti·tat·ed, nic·ti·tat·ing.

to wink.

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Also nic·tate.

Origin of nictitate

1815–25; < Medieval Latin nictitātus, past participle of nictitāre, frequentative of Latin nictāre to wink, frequentative of nicere to beckon; see -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM nictitate

nic·ti·tant, adjective

Words nearby nictitate

nicotinism, nicotinize, nicoya, nicoya peninsula, nictheroy, nictitate, nictitating membrane, nictitation, nicu, nid-nod, nida
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to nictitate

bat, flicker, twinkle, sparkle, flash, shimmer, wink, glimmer, scintillate, nictate, glitter, flutter, squint

British Dictionary definitions for nictitate

nictitate

nictate (ˈnɪkteɪt)

/ (ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt) /

verb

technical words for blink (def. 1)

Derived forms of nictitate

nictitation or nictation, noun

Word Origin for nictitate

C19: from Medieval Latin nictitāre to wink repeatedly, from Latin nictāre to wink, from nicere to beckon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012