— tinsellike , adj.
/tin"seuhl/ , n., adj., v., tinseled, tinseling or ( esp. Brit. ) tinselled, tinselling .
n.
1. a glittering metallic substance, as copper or brass, in thin sheets, used in pieces, strips, threads, etc., to produce a sparkling effect cheaply.
2. a metallic yarn, usually wrapped around a core yarn of silk, rayon, or cotton, for weaving brocade or lamé.
3. anything showy or attractive with little or no real worth; showy pretense: The actress was tired of the fantasy and tinsel of her life.
4. Obs. a fabric, formerly in use, of silk or wool interwoven with threads of gold, silver, or, later, copper.
adj.
5. consisting of or containing tinsel.
6. showy; gaudy; tawdry.
v.t.
7. to adorn with tinsel.
8. to adorn with anything glittering.
9. to make showy or gaudy.
[ 1495-1505; by aphesis estincelle (OF estincele ) a spark, flash stincilla, metathetic var. of L scintilla SCINTILLA; first used attributively in phrases tinsel satin, tinsel cloth ]