wink Hear it!

wink Definition

wink (wiŋk)

intransitive verb

  1. to close the eyelids and open them again quickly
    1. to close one eyelid and open it again quickly, as a signal, etc.
    2. to be closed and opened in this way: said of the eye
  2. to shine intermittently; twinkle

Etymology: ME winken < OE wincian, akin to Ger winken: see winch

transitive verb

  1. to make (the eyes or an eye) wink
  2. to move, remove, etc. by winking: usually with back or away to wink back tears
  3. to signal or express by winking

noun

  1. the act of winking
    1. the time occupied by this; an instant
    2. a tiny interval (of sleep)
  2. a signal, hint, etc. given by winking
  3. a twinkle or twinkling

wink Idioms

wink at

to pretend not to see, as in connivance

wink Synonyms

wink

v.

  1. To close one eye

    squint, blink, nictate, nictitate, flirt, make eyes at*, bat the eyes*.

  2. To twinkle

    sparkle, gleam, blink; see flash 1.

wink usually implies a usually deliberate movement in the quick closing and opening of one or both eyelids one or more times he winked at her knowingly; blink implies a rapid series of such movements, usually performed involuntarily and with the eyes half-shut to blink in the harsh sunlight

wink Usage Examples

Object

  • eye: Oh, yes, it's all very well to wink one eye at me; I'd make you wink both.
  • light: Against a waterlogged, leaden gray sky, the zinc gray airship drifted slowly winking a tiny orange light.

Converse of object

  • nudge: Hope to see you at Chunkie's party, will you be wearing " it " again, nudge nudge wink wink?
  • sleep: He had not slept a wink all night, trying to figure out his best move.
  • nominate: It seems that perhaps a player who has just sent himself off shouldn't be allowed to play a nominated wink.
  • catch: Then right to that air-conditioned theater to catch a few winks, " Sam joked, getting a shrug in return.
  • tip: How often he tips a wink at the male heterosexual reader!
  • know: He kind of gave them to me with a knowing wink.

Preposition: at

  • audience: He gave a subtle, low key performance and did not wink at the audience.
  • camera: The waters wink back at the cameras, recording their own ephemeral impressions at the edge of a historic city.

Adjective modifier

  • sly: But sly winks are all they are- they never overwhelm the film and are never played with anything other than a straight face.
  • cheeky: The only way to order one a Screaming Orgasm is with a smile and a cheeky wink!
  • little: Or are you more in the mood for a little wink of an eye, flick of the hair, flirty fun?

Modifying Another Word

  • again: I patted her on the head and winked again.
  • back: The faces on the soles just winked back at her.
  • then: He then winked at his bench after Rooney was shown the red card.
  • just: He wants more drums right after all you gotta do is just wink your eye!

Noun used with modifier

forty: At the back of the class Jennifer was given a right ticking off for having forty winks.

Preposition: of

  • sleep: Why, I haven't had a wink of sleep these three weeks!
  • eye: Or are you more in the mood for a little wink of an eye, flick of the hair, flirty fun?

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