tinkle
[ ting-kuh l ]
/ ˈtɪŋ kəl /
verb (used without object), tin·kled, tin·kling.
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
Nearby words
tinker's dam, tinker's damn, tinker's weed, tinkerman, tinkertoy, tinkle, tinkly, tinley park, tinman, tinned, tinner
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
British Dictionary definitions for tinkle
tinkle
/ (ˈtɪŋkəl) /
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
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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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper