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.

Nearby words

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

Examples from the Web for tinkle

It was a silent Mass, during which neither the sound of the moving lips nor the tinkle of the bell was audible.
Famous Modern Ghost Stories|Various
They hear the tinkle of bells, the gallop of speeding hoofs upon the pavement.
Dangerous Ground|Lawrence L. Lynch
At this moment they heard the tinkle of the silver bowl, into which her husband threw a little ball when he wanted her.
The Bride of the Nile, Complete|Georg Ebers
He supposed at first it was a customer, when he heard a footstep at the door, and then caught the tinkle of the watchful bell.
Fighting the Sea|Edward A. Rand

Mr. Tinkle's princely offer was but the beginning of a series of handsome and useful gifts.
The House|Eugene Field

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

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.

tinkle

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

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

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of tinkle

Examples from the Web for tinkle

tinkle

verb

noun

Word Origin for tinkle

tinkle