tinkle

[ting-kuh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tinkle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), tin·kled, tin·kling.

to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell.

to run one's fingers lightly over a keyboard instrument or to play such an instrument simply or badly.

Baby Talk. to urinate.

verb (used with object), tin·kled, tin·kling.

to cause to tinkle or jingle: The goat tinkled its bell every time it raised its head. Who's tinkling the piano?

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

noun

a tinkling sound or tune.

an act or instance of tinkling.

Informal. a telephone call: Give me a tinkle before you leave for Europe.

Origin of tinkle

1350–1400; Middle English tynclen, frequentative of tinken to clink; imitative

Related formsout·tin·kle, verb (used with object), out·tin·kled, out·tin·kling.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for tinkle

sound, jangle, ding, tingle, chime, clink, chink, ting, plink

Examples from the Web for tinkle

Historical Examples of tinkle

Gracie asked, running off the final notes in a tinkle of melody.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
Joseph heard the tinkle of a falling blade, and assumed it to be Kenneth's.
The Tavern Knight
Rafael Sabatini
A tinkle of cutlery and a slight jingle of glasses were heard.
End of the Tether
Joseph Conrad
Not until the fourth tinkle had been heard was there any other sound within the house.
Shoulder-Straps
Henry Morford
There was a tinkle at my bell, and I left her to open the door.
The Moon and Sixpence
W. Somerset Maugham

British Dictionary definitions for tinkle

tinkle

verb

to ring or cause to ring with a series of high tinny sounds, like a small bell

(tr) to announce or summon by such a ringing

(intr) British informal to urinate

noun

a high clear ringing sound

the act of tinkling

British informal a telephone call

Derived Formstinkling, adjective, nountinkly, adjective

Word Origin for tinkle

C14: of imitative origin

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

Word Origin and History for tinkle

"to make a gentle ringing sound," late 14c., possibly a frequentative form of tinken "to ring, jingle," perhaps of imitative origin. Meaning "to urinate" is recorded from 1960, from childish talk. Related: Tinkled; tinkling.