flicker
flicker¹
Definition
flicker (flik′ər)
intransitive verb
- to flap the wings rapidly, as in hovering; flutter: said of a bird
- to move with a quick, light, wavering motion
- to burn or shine unsteadily, as a candle in the wind
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
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
flicker
Synonyms
flicker
v.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near flicker
- flick-knife
- flick
- flic
- flibbertigibbet
- flexure
- flexuous
- flextime
- flexor
- flexion
- flexile
- flied
- flier
- flight
- flight attendant
- flight bag
- flight control
- flight crew
- flight deck
- flight engineer
- flight feather
