wink

wink¹

—winkingly, adv.

/wingk/, v.i.

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

2. to close and open one eye quickly as a hint or signal or with some sly meaning (often fol. by at): She winked at him across the room.

3. (of the eyes) to close and open thus; blink.

4. to shine with little flashes of light; twinkle: The city lights winked in the distance.

v.t.

5. to close and open (one or both eyes) quickly; execute or give (a wink).

6. to drive or force by winking (usually fol. by back or away): She attempted to wink back the tears.

7. to signal or convey by a wink.

8. wink at, to ignore deliberately, as to avoid the necessity of taking action: to wink at minor offenses.

n.

9. an act of winking.

10. a winking movement, esp. of one eye in giving a hint or signal.

11. a hint or signal given by winking.

12. the time required for winking once; an instant or twinkling: I'll be there in a wink.

13. a little flash of light; twinkle.

14. the least bit: I didn't sleep a wink last night.

[bef. 900; (v.) ME winken, OE wincian; c. G winken to wave, signal; (n.) ME: nap, deriv. of the v.]

Syn. 1. 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. TO BLINK suggests a sleepy, dazed, or dazzled condition in which it is difficult to focus the eyes or see clearly: Bright sun makes one blink. 4. sparkle.

wink²

/wingk/, n. Games.

a disk or similar small object used in tiddlywinks.

[1890-95; extracted from TIDDLYWINKS]

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