tinsel

[tin-suhl]

noun

1. a glittering metallic substance, as copper or brass, in thin sheets, used in pieces, strips, threads, etc., to produce a sparkling effect cheaply.

2. a metallic yarn, usually wrapped around a core yarn of silk, rayon, or cotton, for weaving brocade or lamé.

3. anything showy or attractive with little or no real worth; showy pretense.

   The actress was tired of the fantasy and tinsel of her life.

4. Obsolete.,  a fabric, formerly in use, of silk or wool interwoven with threads of gold, silver, or, later, copper.

adjective

1. consisting of or containing tinsel.

2. showy; gaudy; tawdry.

verb (used with object)

tinseled, tinseling , tinselled, tinselling .

1. to adorn with tinsel.

2. to adorn with anything glittering.

3. to make showy or gaudy.

tinsel

/ ˈtɪnsəl /

noun

1. a decoration consisting of a piece of string with thin strips of metal foil attached along its length

2. a yarn or fabric interwoven with strands of glittering thread

3. anything cheap, showy, and gaudy

verb

1. to decorate with or as if with tinsel

   snow tinsels the trees

2. to give a gaudy appearance to

adjective

1. made of or decorated with tinsel

2. showily but cheaply attractive; gaudy

Other Word Forms

• tinsellike adjective
• overtinsel verb (used with object)
• untinseled adjective
• untinselled adjective
• tinselly adjective
• tinsel-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tinsel¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; by shortening of Middle French estincelle ( Old French estincele ) “a spark, flash,” from Vulgar Latin stincilla, unrecorded variant of Latin scintilla; first used attributively in phrases tinsel satin, tinsel cloth; scintilla

Word History and Origins

Origin of tinsel¹

C16: from Old French estincele a spark, from Latin scintilla; compare _stencil

Example Sentences

While this month is mid-summer for half the world, Australia is in the depths of winter and for many, that means it's time for tinsel, turkey and Yuletide tunes.

From BBC

Griffiths doesn’t fight against the formula, he just takes our expectations for every scene and gingers them up a little, the movie version of a cozy sweater threaded with tinsel.

From Los Angeles Times

As the fireworks crackled, the tinsel fell and the lap of honour snaked around the vast stadium, it felt like the beginning of something.

From BBC

“I remember he walked into the mansion fresh off the plane and was looking at my hair tinsel and was very sweet and curious,” Madison said Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

And as the night rolls on — voices rising, drinks flowing and silver tinsel shimmering under the lights — Buck reflects on the strange universality of country music.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classy 
• conspicuous 
• extravagant 
• flamboyant 
• garish 
• gaudy 
• glittery 
• jaunty 
• splashy 
• swank