flicker

flicker¹ Definition

flicker (flik′ər)

intransitive verb

Etymology: ME flikeren < OE flicorian, akin to flacor, flying, ON flǫkta, to flutter: for IE base see flaw

transitive verb

to cause to flicker or waver

noun

an act or instance of flickering
a dart of flame or light, as in a flickering fire
a look or feeling that comes and goes quickly a flicker of fear crossed his face
any of various visual effects, as a fluctuation in brightness on a video screen or in the clarity of the image being projected on a film screen

flicker¹ Related Forms

flick′·ery adjective

flicker² Definition

☆ flicker (flik′ər)

noun

any of several North American woodpeckers (genus Colaptes); esp., the yellow-shafted flicker

Etymology: echoic of its cry

flicker Synonyms

twinkle, glimmer, gleam, glint; see flash 1. See syn. study at flame.

flicker Synonyms

flicker Usage Examples

Object

candlelight: For example, what might it have been like to view a Renaissance painting by flickering candlelight?
flame: There were flickering candle flames in the inner room.
candle: It did not take long for the light of a flickering candle to glide across the room.
flashlight: We set off swimming in a line, Jeff leading the way followed by a line of flickering torches.
light: In its flickering crimson light, a suit of rusty armor stood guard over a pair of enormous stone coffins.
shadow: Performers in black masks, dwarfed by flickering shadows, invited the audience to share their fears.

Converse of object

eliminate: Increasing this to 50 images per second would eliminate noticeable flicker.

Adjective modifier

slight: There may have been a slight flicker in Carls eyes.
occasional: On the plus side, its images were rock solid, without any ghosting and with only occasional flicker.

Modifies a noun

fixer: External models that will connect to most Amigas retail for £ 69.95, or £ 99.95 with the flicker fixer.
noise: Low frequency feedback for flicker noise suppression is now being re-investigated and optimized.

Modifying Another Word

briefly: A worried look flickered briefly on Willie's face, to be replaced by one of studied unconcern.

Noun used with modifier

candle: Candles flicker flame diminished to rosy dawn flare relinquished.
shadow: Shadows flicker over the old photographs of this young boy who never came down to earth again.
screen: Let the screen flicker, let men flare across the room at you.

Preposition: of

flame: Sip a drink by the log fire in the elegant lounge and lose yourself in the flicker of a flame.
candle: But just before the last flicker of the burning candle was finally snuffed out along came CAMRA and the rest is history.
smile: I noticed a flicker of a smile cross the hon.
emotion: In two years, dad had never witnessed a flicker of emotion from the gaffer.

Followed by an intransitive particle

on: The car pulled over and the pair fell out and crawled toward a red light which flickered on and off in a nearby basement.

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