/ ˈtwɪŋkl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ v ]
1.
to shine with a light that keeps changing from bright to faint to bright again :
Stars twinkled in the sky.
twinkling lights in the distance
➡ note at shine
2.
twinkle (with sth) | twinkle (at sb) if your eyes twinkle , you have a bright expression because you are happy or excited :
twinkling blue eyes
Her eyes twinkled with merriment.
■ noun [ sing. ]
1.
an expression in your eyes that shows you are happy or amused about sth :
He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye .
2.
a small light that keeps changing from bright to faint to bright again :
the twinkle of stars
the twinkle of the harbour lights in the distance
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English twinclian (verb), of Germanic origin.