/ ˈflɪkə(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] ( of a light or a flame ) to keep going on and off as it shines or burns :
The lights flickered and went out.
the flickering screen of the television
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] ( of an emotion, a thought, etc. ) to be expressed or appear somewhere for a short time :
Anger flickered in his eyes.
3.
[ v ] to move with small quick movements :
Her eyelids flickered as she slept.
■ noun [ usually sing. ] flicker (of sth)
1.
a light that shines in an unsteady way :
the flicker of a television / candle
2.
a small, sudden movement with part of the body :
the flicker of an eyelid
3.
a feeling or an emotion that lasts for only a very short time :
a flicker of hope / doubt / interest
A flicker of a smile crossed her face.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English flicorian , flycerian to flutter , probably of Germanic origin and related to Low German flickern and Dutch flikkeren .