/ blɪŋk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
when you blink or blink your eyes or your eyes blink , you shut and open your eyes quickly :
[ v ]
He blinked in the bright sunlight.
I'll be back before you can blink (= very quickly) .
When I told him the news he didn't even blink (= showed no surprise at all) .
[also vn ]
—compare wink
2.
[ v ] to shine with an unsteady light; to flash on and off :
Suddenly a warning light blinked.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- blink sth away / back
■ noun
[ usually sing. ] the act of shutting and opening your eyes very quickly
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IDIOMS
- in the blink of an eye
- on the blink
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from blenk , Scots variant of blench , reinforced by Middle Dutch blinken to shine. Early senses included deceive , flinch (compare with blench ), and also open the eyes after sleep : hence sense 1 (mid 16th cent.).