wink

¹wink

verb \ˈwiŋk\

Definition of WINK

intransitive verb

1

: to shut one eye briefly as a signal or in teasing

2

: to close and open the eyelids quickly

3

: to avoid seeing or noting something —usually used with at

4

: to gleam or flash intermittently : twinkle <her glasses winking in the sunlight — Harper Lee>

5

a : to come to an end —usually used with out b : to stop shining —usually used with out

6

: to signal a message with a light

transitive verb

1

: to cause to open and shut

2

: to affect or influence by or as if by blinking the eyes

Examples of WINK

1. He winked and said that he understood.
2. She winked at me as she asked what I was doing tonight.
3. She winked an eye at me.
4. The puppy was winking in the bright sun.
5. The stars winked in the night sky.
6. The airplane's landing lights winked on and off.

Origin of WINK

Middle English, from Old English wincian; akin to Old High German winchan to stagger, wink and perhaps to Latin vacillare to sway, Sanskrit vañcati he goes crookedly

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WINK

Synonyms: blink

Related Words: bat, flutter; squint

Near Antonyms: disapprove (of), frown (on or upon); deny, disallow, refuse

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with WINK

blink, brink, chink, clink, dink, drink, fink, gink, ink, jink, kink, link, mink, pink, plink, prink, rink, shrink, sink, skink, slink, stink, swink, sync, think, zinc