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View synonyms for tinkle

tinkle

[ ting-kuhl ]

verb (used without object)

, tin·kled, tin·kling.
  1. to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell.
  2. to run one's fingers lightly over a keyboard instrument or to play such an instrument simply or badly.
  3. Baby Talk. to urinate.


verb (used with object)

, tin·kled, tin·kling.
  1. to cause to tinkle or jingle:

    The goat tinkled its bell every time it raised its head. Who's tinkling the piano?

  2. to make known, call attention to, attract, or summon by tinkling.

noun

  1. a tinkling sound or tune.
  2. an act or instance of tinkling.
  3. Informal. a telephone call:

    Give me a tinkle before you leave for Europe.

tinkle

/ ˈtɪŋkəl /

verb

  1. to ring or cause to ring with a series of high tinny sounds, like a small bell
  2. tr to announce or summon by such a ringing
  3. informal.
    intr to urinate
“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


noun

  1. a high clear ringing sound
  2. the act of tinkling
  3. informal.
    a telephone call
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈtinkling, adjectivenoun
  • ˈtinkly, adjective
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Other Words From

  • outtinkle verb (used with object) outtinkled outtinkling
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tinkle1

1350–1400; Middle English tynclen, frequentative of tinken to clink; imitative
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tinkle1

C14: of imitative origin
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Example Sentences

When the news came out that Jackie director Pablo Larraín had cast her as Princess Diana, it sounded as if genius had struck with the perfectly tuned tinkle of a sterling dinner bell.

From Time

The third line runs thus: “How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle in the icy air of night.”

We observe that as “time” is here repeated three times, so “tinkle” was repeated three times in the third line.

The blind came down with a rush, there was a little tinkle of glass, and the general staggered back with his hand to his shoulder.

Tinkle, tinkle went the bells The reindeer lifted their hoofs higher and pawed at the comforter.

The brook was whispering secret things, and the drip from the trees made a soft tinkle, just detectable, on its pools.

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