wink

¹

[ wingk ]

verb (used without object)

1. to close and open one eye quickly as a hint or signal or with some sly meaning (often followed by at ):

   She winked at him across the room.

2. to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle:

   The city lights winked in the distance.

   Synonyms: sparkle

3. to close and open one or both eyes quickly.

verb (used with object)

1. to signal or convey by closing and opening one eye quickly:

   Wink one eye if you need help later.

2. to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly.
3. to drive or force by opening and closing the eyes rapidly (usually followed by back or away ):

   She attempted to wink back the tears.

noun

1. a winking movement, especially of one eye in giving a hint or signal:

   I gave the judges a wink of my eye to show my confidence.

2. a hint or signal given by closing and opening one eye rapidly:

   Her wink assured me the plan was still on.

3. an act of closing and opening one eye rapidly.
4. the time required for closing and opening the eyes once; an instant or twinkling:

   I'll be there in a wink.

5. a little flash of light; twinkle.
6. the least bit:

   I didn't sleep a wink last night.

verb phrase

1. to ignore deliberately, as to avoid the necessity of taking action:

   to wink at minor offenses.

wink

²

[ wingk ]

noun

, Games.

1. a disk or similar small object used in tiddlywinks.

wink

¹

/ wɪŋk /

verb

1. intr to close and open one eye quickly, deliberately, or in an exaggerated fashion to convey friendliness, etc
2. to close and open (an eye or the eyes) momentarily
3. tr; foll by away, back, etc to force away (tears, etc) by winking
4. tr to signal with a wink
5. intr (of a light) to gleam or flash intermittently

noun

1. a winking movement, esp one conveying a signal, etc, or such a signal
2. an interrupted flashing of light
3. a brief moment of time; instant
4. informal.
   the smallest amount, esp of sleep See also forty winks
5. tip the wink informal.
   to give a hint

wink

²

/ wɪŋk /

noun

1. a disc used in the game of tiddlywinks

Other Words From

• wink·ing·ly adverb
• un·wink·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wink¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb winken, Old English wincian; cognate with German winken “to wave, signal”; the noun is derivative of the verb

Origin of wink²

First recorded in 1890–95; extracted from tiddlywinks

Word History and Origins

Origin of wink¹

Old English wincian; related to Old Saxon wincon, Old High German winchan, German winken to wave. See wench , winch

Origin of wink²

C20: shortened from tiddlywinks

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with wink , also see forty winks ; quick as a wink ; sleep a wink .

Synonym Study

Wink, blink refer to rapid motions of the eyelid. To wink is to close and open either one or both eyelids with a rapid motion, often intentionally or as a signal. To blink suggests an involuntary movement, sometimes due to a sleepy, dazed, or dazzled condition in which it is difficult to focus the eyes or see clearly: Bright sun makes most people blink.

Example Sentences

His mirror-clad house in Palm Springs, “Mirage,” got a wink in the Showtime series “The Curse.”

From Los Angeles Times

Montana Longcrier caught a six-yard touchdown pass with no time on the clock and Mia LaRosa snared the ensuing one-point conversion pass from Addyson Wink as Troy scored three times in the last two minutes to stun San Clemente 33-32 in the first game of the day.

From Los Angeles Times

Working with Ravens coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale showed Minter a new strategy.

From Los Angeles Times

His rendition of Fly Me To the Moon impressed the judges, as did his boyish charm - he showed a cheeky streak when he flashed a mid-song wink at Girls Aloud star Cheryl.

From BBC

The small cast, much like a small town, manages challenges with a neighborly wink.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gleam
• glimmer
• twinkle