tinkle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell.
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to run one's fingers lightly over a keyboard instrument or to play such an instrument simply or badly.
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Baby Talk. to urinate.
verb (used with object)
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to cause to tinkle or jingle.
The goat tinkled its bell every time it raised its head. Who's tinkling the piano?
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to make known, call attention to, attract, or summon by tinkling.
noun
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a tinkling sound or tune.
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an act or instance of tinkling.
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Informal. a telephone call.
Give me a tinkle before you leave for Europe.
verb
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to ring or cause to ring with a series of high tinny sounds, like a small bell
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(tr) to announce or summon by such a ringing
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informal (intr) to urinate
noun
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a high clear ringing sound
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the act of tinkling
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informal a telephone call
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tinklesimple
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tinklessimple
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have tinkledperfect
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has tinkledperfect
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am tinklingprogressive
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are tinklingprogressive
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is tinklingprogressive
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have been tinklingperfect progressive
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has been tinklingperfect progressive
Past
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tinkledsimple
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had tinkledperfect
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was tinklingprogressive
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were tinklingprogressive
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had been tinklingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tinkle
1350–1400; Middle English tynclen, frequentative of tinken to clink; imitative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A heavy quiet hangs over Theofilou's farm in the absence of the bleats from the sheep and the tinkle of their bells.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
This is not a concert in which the lead singer will occasionally tinkle the ivories for effect.
From Salon • Jun. 24, 2025
But the darned toy has been blaring “Swan Lake” since “Ballerina” started and, to our annoyance, it’ll tinkle a few more times.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025
But what if those bells are right outside your bedroom window day and night, and rather than tinkle gently, clang loudly around the necks of 20 or 30 cows?
From BBC • Nov. 2, 2023
I smell the sugary Cuban coffee Mami must be making, hear the china cups tinkle in their saucers.
From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
