I. ˈflikə(r) verb
( flickered ; flickered ; flickering -k(ə)riŋ ; flickers )
Etymology: Middle English flikeren, from Old English flicorian; akin to Old English flacor flying, Middle High German vlackern to flicker, Old Norse flökra to flutter, flakka to flicker, flutter, Latin plangere to strike — more at plaint
intransitive verb
1. : to flap the wings without flying : flutter
and flickering on her nest made short essays to sing — John Dryden
2. obsolete : to make caressing motions or advances
3.
a. : to waver unsteadily : wave or undulate like a flame in a current of air
the embers flickered into flame
sometimes : to give a final flicker (as of light while expiring)
shadows flicker on the wall
— often used with out
the light flickered out
b. of a fire or flame : to burn fitfully
c. : to engage in brief and often surreptitious glances
her glance flickered at him
often : to make an examination in brief glances
the teacher's eyes flickered doubtfully over the rapt pupils
transitive verb
1. : to cause to flicker
2.
a. : to produce by flickering
fitful flames flickering dark horrors on the wall
b. : to make apparent or convey by some slight gesture
flickered a warning with a lifted brow
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : an act of flickering
the flicker of shadow on the wall
b. : a sudden brief movement or gesture
a flicker of an eyelash
c. : a momentary quickening (as of interest or emotion)
felt a flicker of renewed desire
d. : a tailspin of an iceboat traveling at high speed
2. : a product of flickering: as
a. : a brief interval of brightness
the final flicker of a dying fire
b. : an uncertain wavering or intermittent light
the uncertain flicker of a tallow dip
c. : the wavering or fluttering visual sensation produced by intermittent light when the rate of intermittence is not rapid enough to produce complete fusion of the individual impressions — contrasted with fusion ; see critical flicker frequency
d. slang : motion picture — usually used in plural
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from flick (IV) + -er
: yellow-shafted flicker ; broadly : any of various large No. American woodpeckers (genus Colaptes ) widely distributed in the southern and western United States and often more or less brightly marked with red or reddish color especially about the nape and usually speckled underparts — usually used in combination; see gilded flicker , red-shafted flicker