tinkle

verb tin·kle \ ˈtiŋ-kəl \

Definition of tinkle

tinkled; tinkling play \-k(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 :to make or emit a tinkle or a sound suggestive of a tinkle

2 :urinate

transitive verb

1 :to sound or make known (the time) by a tinkle

2 a :to cause to make a tinkle

b :to produce by tinkling

tinkle a tune

See tinkle defined for English-language learners

See tinkle defined for kids

Examples of tinkle in a Sentence

The ice tinkled in the glass.
A piano was tinkling in the background.
He tinkled a small bell.

Recent Examples of tinkle from the Web

The tragic Motley Crue song about a man who kills his lover is beautifully heartbreaking, from its tinkling piano melody to the glimmering guitar.

— christa titus, Billboard, "Motley Crue's 15 Best Songs: Critic's Picks," 31 July 2017
Then on through the enfilade of the bishop’s handsome state rooms, and into his private sitting rooms where a pianist tinkled the ivories, and onto the broad tiled terrace that had never before been opened to the public.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "Vogue’s Hamish Bowles on His Molto Alta Weekend in Palermo With Dolce & Gabbana," 11 July 2017
But as the Steinway tinkled and voices filled the room, vibrations rose from deep beneath the earth, like a musical giant shifting in its grave.

— ben widdicombe, New York Times, "Young Socialites Conjure the Ghost of Leonard Bernstein at the Dakota," 24 June 2017
A master of atmospherics, Bingham and Ebert shroud his voice with washes of delicate percussion, echoed guitar (courtesy of Magnetic Zeros member Nico Aglietti) and tinkled bells, and the result is a certain intimacy.

— randall roberts, latimes.com, "California Sounds: New music from Haim, Alex Ebert and La Santa Cecilia," 6 May 2017
When Midtown Manhattan goes dark after hours, Chicken Delicious edges onto his piano stool at Mimi’s, tinkling some notes to start.

— alex vadukul, New York Times, "A Piano Man of Many Faces, and Some Stranger Stories," 31 Mar. 2017
But the plotting will continue, and the Jester will be there to tinkle his bells of steel.

— james wolcott, The Hive, "5 Essential Twitter Feeds for Keeping Up with Trump and Russia," 21 Feb. 2017
Bursts of tinkling metal madness somehow mesh with the overall darkness of the slow second movement.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: NY Phil Biennial’s Ambitious Wrap-Up, From Boulez to Bolcom," 12 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tinkle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tinkle

Middle English, frequentative of tinken to tinkle, of imitative origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

tinkle Synonyms

Synonyms

chink, clink, tingle, jingle

Related Words

clang, clangor, clank, clash, crash; clack, clatter, rattle; chime, ding, ding-dong, gong, jangle, ping, plink, ring

tinkle

noun

Definition of tinkle

1 :a series of short high ringing or clinking sounds

2 :a jingling effect in verse or prose

See tinkle defined for English-language learners

Examples of tinkle in a Sentence

the soothing tinkle of the wind chime on the back porch

Recent Examples of tinkle from the Web

External sounds and sights bleed into this exhibition, which also resonates with the whir and creak and tinkle of sculptures in motion.

— jason farago, New York Times, "When It Comes to Calder, the Same Piece Is Always Different," 8 June 2017
In every corner of the establishment — the florist shop, the main store and the outdoor nursery — the sound of trickling water mingled with the tinkle of wind chimes.

— janis mara, The Mercury News, "Japanese-American East Bay nursery closing ends saga started in 1905," 24 May 2017
Only minutes by water from downtown Manhattan, Governors Island has an otherworldly air, a car-free oasis where the only sounds on the trails are lapping waves and the tinkle of bicycle bells.

— gina levay, Smithsonian, "How New York City Is Rediscovering Its Maritime Spirit," 2 May 2017
Above us a chandelier's crystal pendants tinkle in time with a soldier's footfalls in an upper bedroom.

— elliot ackerman, Esquire, "Goodbye, My Brother," 23 Mar. 2017
In a delectable detail, Missy’s hypnotic aid is not a swinging wristwatch but the tinkle of a teaspoon in a china cup.

— anthony lane, The New Yorker, "“Get Out” and “Logan”," 6 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of tinkle

1725

tinkle Synonyms

Synonyms

chime (s), jingle, tintinnabulation

Related Words

clatter, jangle, rattle; chink, clang, clank, clink, ding-dong, ping, ring; chirr, ripple, trill, warble

TINKLE Defined for English Language Learners

tinkle

verb

Definition of tinkle for English Language Learners

: to make sounds like the sounds of a small bell
: to pass urine from the body

tinkle

noun

Definition of tinkle for English Language Learners

: the sound produced by a small bell or a similar sound
: a telephone call
: the act of passing urine from the body

TINKLE Defined for Kids

tinkle

verb tin·kle \ ˈtiŋ-kəl \

Definition of tinkle for Students

tinkled; tinkling

:to make or cause to make short high ringing or clinking sounds

tinkle

noun

Definition of tinkle for Students

:a short high ringing or clinking sound

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See words that rhyme with tinkle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tinkle Spanish Central: Translation of tinkle Nglish: Translation of tinkle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tinkle for Arabic speakers

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tinkle

Definition of tinkle

Examples of tinkle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tinkle from the Web

First Known Use of tinkle

tinkle Synonyms

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TINKLE Defined for English Language Learners

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tinkle

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