tinsel

American  

[tin-suhl] / ˈtɪn səl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

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

Etymology

Origin of tinsel

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

Related Words

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