flicker

verb flick·er \ ˈfli-kər \

Definition of flicker

flickered; flickering play \ˈfli-k(ə-)riŋ\

intransitive verb

1 :to move irregularly or unsteadily :flutter

Shadows flickered on the wall.

2 :to burn or shine fitfully or with a fluctuating light

a candle flickering in the window

3 :to appear or pass briefly or quickly

Thoughts flickered through his mind.

A smile flickered across her face.

transitive verb

1 :to cause to flicker

2 :to produce by flickering

—

flickeringly

play \ˈfli-k(ə-)riŋ-lē\ adverb

See flicker defined for English-language learners

See flicker defined for kids

Examples of flicker in a Sentence

A TV was flickering in the background.
The overhead light kept flickering off and on.
Thoughts flickered through his mind.
A smile flickered across her face.

Origin and Etymology of flicker

Middle English flikeren, from Old English flicorian

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

flicker Synonyms

Synonyms

dance, dart, flick, flit, flirt, flitter, flutter, zip

Related Words

dash, fly, sail, shoot, speed, sprint, zing, zoom; scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter; meander, ramble, roam, wander

Near Antonyms

float, hang, hover

flicker

noun

Definition of flicker

1 a :an act of flickering

b :a sudden brief movement

the flicker of an eyelash

c :a momentary quickening

a flicker of anger

d :a slight indication :hint

a flicker of recognition

2 a :a wavering light

the flicker of a candle

b :a repeated momentary defect in a cathode-ray tube image caused especially by slow scanning of the screen

3 dated, informal :movie —often used in plural

—

flickery

play \ˈfli-k(ə-)rē\ adjective

First Known Use of flicker

1822

flicker

noun

Definition of flicker

:a large barred and spotted North American woodpecker (Colaptes auratus) with a brown back that commonly forages on the ground for ants — compare red-shafted flicker, yellow-shafted flicker

Origin and Etymology of flicker

probably imitative of its call

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1809

See Words from the same year

FLICKER Defined for English Language Learners

flicker

verb

Definition of flicker for English Language Learners

: to burn or glow in an unsteady way : to produce an unsteady light
: to appear or pass briefly or quickly

FLICKER Defined for Kids

flicker

verb flick·er \ ˈfli-kər \

Definition of flicker for Students

flickered; flickering

1 :to burn unsteadily

a flickering candle

2 :to appear briefly

A smile flickered across her face.

3 :to move quickly

Roy's eyes flickered to her hand …
—Carl Hiaasen, Hoot

flicker

noun

Definition of flicker for Students

1 :a quick small movement

a flicker of the eyelids

2 :a quick movement of light

flicker

noun

Definition of flicker for Students

:a large North American woodpecker

Medical Dictionary

flicker

noun flick·er \ ˈflik-ər \

medical Definition of flicker

:the wavering or fluttering visual sensation produced by intermittent light when the interval between flashes is not small enough to produce complete fusion of the individual impressions