tinkle

American  

[ting-kuhl] / ˈtɪŋ kəl /

verb (used without object)

tinkled, tinkling

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.

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verb (used with object)

tinkled, tinkling

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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a high clear ringing sound

2. the act of tinkling

3. informal a telephone call

Other Word Forms

• outtinkle verb (used with object)
• tinkling adjective
• tinkly adjective

Etymology

Origin of tinkle

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

Example Sentences

But before I can talk myself into heading back into the rain, the bell tinkles again.

From Literature

"I'd just sit there most evenings, tinkling on it," he says and that curiosity led him to train as a piano tuner.

From BBC

Roberts doesn’t offer much empathy for the poor, diseased critter other than a pause when Ben momentarily ponders his reflection in a pool as Adrian Johnston’s eerie synth-piano score tinkles.

From Los Angeles Times

Step closer and you hear the contraption appearing to breathe, a tinkling sound like wind chimes emanating from the cooling mechanism that keeps its innards colder than outer space.

From Barron's

Shards of glass tinkle to the ground, and a flood of moonlight washes through the basement.

From Literature