flicker

¹

[ flik-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to burn unsteadily; shine with a wavering light; blink on and off:

   The candle flickered in the draft and went out.

   Synonyms: twinkle, shimmer, flash, gleam, glimmer, flare

2. to move to and fro; vibrate; quiver:

   The long grasses flickered in the wind.

3. to flutter:

   Her eyelids flickered, the only sign she'd been startled.

4. to appear or occur briefly:

   A smile flickered across his face.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to flicker:

   She flickered the lights quickly to attract their attention.

noun

1. an unsteady flame or light:

   A dim flicker of lamplight was all that illuminated the room.

2. a flickering movement:

   The flicker of the snake's tongue was hypnotizing.

3. a brief occurrence or appearance:

   The thought of reinforcements gave them a flicker of hope.

4. Often flick·ers. Slang. flick ².
5. Ophthalmology. the visual sensation of flickering that occurs when the interval between intermittent flashes of light is too long to permit fusion.

flicker

²

[ flik-er ]

noun

1. any of several American woodpeckers of the genus Colaptes, having the underside of the wings and tail brightly marked with yellow or red and noted for taking insects from the ground as well as trees.

flicker

¹

/ ˈflɪkə /

noun

1. any North American woodpecker of the genus Colaptes , esp C. auratus ( yellow-shafted flicker ), which has a yellow undersurface to the wings and tail

flicker

²

/ ˈflɪkə /

verb

1. intr to shine with an unsteady or intermittent light

   a candle flickers

2. intr to move quickly to and fro; quiver, flutter, or vibrate
3. tr to cause to flicker

noun

1. an unsteady or brief light or flame
2. a swift quivering or fluttering movement
3. a visual sensation, often seen in a television image, produced by periodic fluctuations in the brightness of light at a frequency below that covered by the persistence of vision
4. the flicker
   plural a US word for flick 2

Derived Forms

• ˈflickery, adjective
• ˈflickeringly, adverb

Other Words From

• flick·er·ing·ly adverb
• flick·er·y adjective
• un·flick·er·ing adjective
• un·flick·er·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flicker¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb flikeren, flekeren, Old English flicerian, flicorian “to flutter”; cognate with Dutch flikkeren

Origin of flicker²

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; said to be imitative of the bird's note

Word History and Origins

Origin of flicker¹

C19: perhaps imitative of the bird's call

Origin of flicker²

Old English flicorian ; related to Dutch flikkeren , Old Norse flökra to flutter

Example Sentences

On this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin to discuss navigating the challenges that lie ahead for American democracy, as we collectively struggle to make sense of this pivotal moment and to emerge from the fog with a flicker of hope.

From Slate

At the end of our interview, he stands up, ready to leave, and for the first time, a flicker of concern, or perhaps irritation, seems to flit across his face.

From BBC

As day turns to dusk and then nighttime, the suffused daylight outside gives way to the firefly-like flicker of passing headlights, while inside the room is bathed in light from a huge TV screen on one wall.

From Los Angeles Times

As the torches of the Old Lahaina Luau flicker, bartenders mix mai tais and hula dancers get ready.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s asking for trouble to stick out your neck / In terms of a target, a big silhouette,” Kristofferson sings, “But some candles flicker and some candles fade / And some burn as true as my sister Sinéad.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blare
• blink
• flare
• flash
• flit
• gleam
• glimmer
• glint
• glitter
• glow
• hover
• quiver
• shimmer
• tremble
• twinkle
• waver