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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.

Words related to nictitate

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

Words nearby nictitate

nicotinism, nicotinize, nicoya, nicoya peninsula, nictheroy, nictitate, nictitating membrane, nictitation, nicu, nid-nod, nida
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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