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.

---

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

---

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

Example Sentences

“The task was to create the tree, but make it different. So, you still love the tinsel, still love the colorful balls, and you still want lots of light,” Brown said.

From MarketWatch

"We bring in a few mince pieces, the site offices might have a bit of tinsel around," he says.

From BBC

But this year, her living room is an explosion of colour, bedecked with foil stars, tinsel and homemade paper chains and ribbon garlands.

From BBC

Mr King said he also used to decorate his tree with tinsel and glass baubles.

From BBC

That's how Hollywood's creative workers describe the fall of the once mighty Warner Bros, as Netflix and Paramount battle to buy the historic studio and tinsel town braces for more upheaval and job losses.

From BBC

Related Words

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