twinkling

American  

[twing-kling] / ˈtwɪŋ klɪŋ /

noun

1. an act of shining with intermittent gleams of light.

2. the time required for a wink; an instant.

3. Archaic. winking; a wink.

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twinkling British  

/ ˈtwɪŋklɪŋ, twɪŋk /

noun

1. Also called: twinkling of an eye.  a very short time; instant; moment

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twinkling Idioms  

1. see in the twinkling of an eye.

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Other Word Forms

• untwinkling adjective

Etymology

Origin of twinkling

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; twinkle, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

And each year, when the twinkling holiday lights fade to a hazy glow and the gingerbread is nothing more than crumbs, I thank copyright law for giving me my favorite Christmas tradition: Ebony Scrooge.

From Salon

"She went to sleep and woke up to find her ward covered in twinkling lights and decorations. She had a stocking packed with gifts."

From BBC

It’s an assembly of archetypes going through the motions, snow falling and lights twinkling all the while.

From The Wall Street Journal

Any skeptic would find themselves disarmed by her soft smile and twinkling voice, and her tendency to address everyone as “angel.”

From Los Angeles Times

Strings of twinkling Christmas lights hung from the ceiling between the stars he’d helped to cut out from silver paper.

From Salon