TWINKLING


Meaning of TWINKLING in English

-k(ə)liŋ, -līŋ noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, from gerund of twinklen to twinkle — more at twinkle

1.

a. : a winking of the eye

b. : the time required for a wink : instant

the kettle will boil in a twinkling — Punch

his patient would be carried off by meningitis in the twinkling of an eye — Jean Stafford

2.

a. : a momentary repetitive variation in brightness of a star due to the varying density of the air which produces constantly changing refractive and interference effects : scintillation

b. : a radiance likened to the twinkling of a star (as the gleam of an eye or the glimmering of city lights)

3. : a rapid flashing motion

the twinkling of their wings was as in sweet rhythm to the twinkling of their hues — Jack McLaren

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.