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tinkle

[ting-kuh l]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for tinkle

Historical Examples

  • 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
  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. (intr) British informal to urinate
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noun
  1. a high clear ringing sound
  2. the act of tinkling
  3. British informal a telephone call
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Derived Formstinkling, adjective, nountinkly, adjective

Word Origin

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

v.

"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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper