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.
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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 tinkling of piano keys can be heard from a single-storey workshop.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2025
No ornaments ever graced her body; there was about her no tinkling, no shining, and no softness.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
