tinkle
verb (used without object)
to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell.
tinkling
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present participleof tinkle.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
-
a word derived from
tinkle.
tinkleverb (used without object)to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell.
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.
Jefferson’s default prose is 18th-century elevator music, clear and tinkling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
I wish it sounded like tinkling bells and xylophones.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
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 ● Dec. 10, 2025
The gentle tinkling of cowbells is a sound almost everyone associates with Switzerland.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2023
Inej was glad she didn’t have time to dwell on the unwelcome familiarity of the silks on her skin, the horrible tinkling of the bells on her anklets.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
