wink

[ wingk ]

/ wɪŋk /

verb (used without object)

to close and open one or both eyes quickly.

to close and open one eye quickly as a hint or signal or with some sly meaning (often followed by at): She winked at him across the room.

(of the eyes) to close and open thus; blink.

to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle: The city lights winked in the distance.

verb (used with object)

to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly; execute or give (a wink).

to drive or force by winking (usually followed by back or away): She attempted to wink back the tears.

to signal or convey by a wink.

noun

an act of winking.

a winking movement, especially of one eye in giving a hint or signal.

a hint or signal given by winking.

the time required for winking once; an instant or twinkling: I'll be there in a wink.

a little flash of light; twinkle.

the least bit: I didn't sleep a wink last night.

Verb Phrases

wink at, to ignore deliberately, as to avoid the necessity of taking action: to wink at minor offenses.

Words nearby wink

wingspread, wingsuit, wingy, winifred, winiwarter-buerger disease, wink, wink at, wink reflex, winkelried, winker, winkle

Origin of wink

before 900; (v.) Middle English winken, Old English wincian; cognate with German winken to wave, signal; (noun) Middle English: nap, derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR wink

1 Wink, blink refer to rapid motions of the eyelid. To wink is to close and open either one or both eyelids with a rapid motion. To blink suggests a sleepy, dazed, or dazzled condition in which it is difficult to focus the eyes or see clearly: Bright sun makes one blink.

4 sparkle.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wink ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM wink

wink·ing·ly, adverbun·wink·ing, adjective

Definition for wink (2 of 2)

wink²

[ wingk ]

/ wɪŋk /

noun Games.

a disk or similar small object used in tiddlywinks.

Origin of wink

First recorded in 1890–95; extracted from tiddlywinks

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wink

It was another of the nudge, nudge, wink, wink jokes that summed up the entire enterprise.
Britain’s Record-Breaking Face-Sitting Porn Protest|Nico Hines|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And we also have to be careful to not do it in a way that feels cheap or just a wink.
The Leaner, Meaner Season 2 of ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’|Jason Lynch|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To add insult to injury, Ronaldo seemed to wink at his bench after Rooney was sent off.
Why It’s Still OK to Hate Sexy Bastard Cristiano Ronaldo After He Saved Team USA|Emily Shire|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the back of a limo, wearing a plaid blazer, Quast raises his drink and says with a wink, “you stay classy, Iowa.”
7 WTF Campaign Ads You Can’t Unsee, From Castrators to Alligator Wrestlers|Olivia Nuzzi|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And history itself offers both a lesson and a wink and a nod to the idea.
One Completely Logical Hillary Running Mate|Jeff Greenfield|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She sat up beside her mother and looked at the minister almost all the time; but sometimes she had to wink hard to keep awake.
The Child's World|Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate
It would have been too terrible—I couldn't have slept a wink from awe.
Anne Of The Island|Lucy Maud Montgomery
Apparently Judge Dunder had in this case resolved to wink a little at chicane and decide for justice in the broader sense.
The Incendiary|W. A. (William Augustine) Leahy
Do you wish me to dream all night, and disturb Mrs. Mole, and not to get a wink of sleep?
Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape From the Brigand's of Greece|Bracebridge Hemyng
Just give me a wink, lad, if you had a finger in the matter.
With Moore at Corunna|G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for wink (1 of 2)

wink¹

/ (wɪŋk) /

verb

(intr) to close and open one eye quickly, deliberately, or in an exaggerated fashion to convey friendliness, etc

to close and open (an eye or the eyes) momentarily

(tr; foll by away, back, etc) to force away (tears, etc) by winking

(tr) to signal with a wink

(intr) (of a light) to gleam or flash intermittently

noun

a winking movement, esp one conveying a signal, etc, or such a signal

an interrupted flashing of light

a brief moment of time; instant

informal the smallest amount, esp of sleepSee also forty winks

tip the wink British informal to give a hint

Word Origin for wink

Old English wincian; related to Old Saxon wincon, Old High German winchan, German winken to wave. See wench, winch

British Dictionary definitions for wink (2 of 2)

wink²

/ (wɪŋk) /

noun

a disc used in the game of tiddlywinks

Word Origin for wink

C20: shortened from tiddlywinks

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for wink

wink

[ wĭngk ]

v.

To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion.

To close and open the eyelids of both eyes; blink.

n.

A quick closing and opening of the eyelids; a blink.

Idioms and Phrases with wink

wink

In addition to the idiom beginning with wink

wink at

also see:

forty winks
quick as a wink
sleep a wink

wink

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Content related to wink

Words related to wink

Words nearby wink

Origin of wink

SYNONYMS FOR wink

OTHER WORDS FROM wink

Definition for wink (2 of 2)

noun Games.

Origin of wink

Examples from the Web for wink

British Dictionary definitions for wink (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for wink

British Dictionary definitions for wink (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for wink

Medicine definitions for wink

v.

n.

Idioms and Phrases with wink