tinkle

American  

[ting-kuhl] / ˈtɪŋ kəl /

verb (used without object)

tinkled, tinkling

1. to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell.

2. to run one's fingers lightly over a keyboard instrument or to play such an instrument simply or badly.

3. Baby Talk. to urinate.

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verb (used with object)

tinkled, tinkling

1. to cause to tinkle or jingle.

   The goat tinkled its bell every time it raised its head. Who's tinkling the piano?

2. to make known, call attention to, attract, or summon by tinkling.

noun

1. a tinkling sound or tune.

2. an act or instance of tinkling.

3. Informal. a telephone call.

   Give me a tinkle before you leave for Europe.

tinkle British  

/ ˈtɪŋkəl /

verb

1. to ring or cause to ring with a series of high tinny sounds, like a small bell

2. (tr) to announce or summon by such a ringing

3. informal (intr) to urinate

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noun

1. a high clear ringing sound

2. the act of tinkling

3. informal a telephone call

Other Word Forms

• outtinkle verb (used with object)
• tinkling adjective
• tinkly adjective

Etymology

Origin of tinkle

1350–1400; Middle English tynclen, frequentative of tinken to clink; imitative

Example Sentences

A heavy quiet hangs over Theofilou's farm in the absence of the bleats from the sheep and the tinkle of their bells.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

This is not a concert in which the lead singer will occasionally tinkle the ivories for effect.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2025

But the darned toy has been blaring “Swan Lake” since “Ballerina” started and, to our annoyance, it’ll tinkle a few more times.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

But what if those bells are right outside your bedroom window day and night, and rather than tinkle gently, clang loudly around the necks of 20 or 30 cows?

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2023

Someone lifts a rack of glasses that tinkle together like rain.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson