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wink

close one eye / signal / flicker / brief moment
Intransitive VerbTransitive VerbNoun
pl: winkspast: winkedpp: winkeding: winking

This action serves as a silent, non-verbal communication tool, often conveying a shared secret, a flirtatious intent, or a playful irony. It creates an immediate, private connection between the sender and receiver, bypassing spoken language to signal a hidden meaning. When applied to lights or stars, the term describes a rhythmic, intermittent flashing. This evokes a sense of distance or instability, mimicking the rapid opening and closing of an eyelid to describe the visual pulse of a distant light source.

Meanings

Intransitive Verb

To close and open one eye quickly, typically as a signal or a joke.

"He winked at me to show he was joking."

Transitive Verb
[~ someone]

To close and open one eye quickly to signal something to a specific person.

"She winked him across the room to indicate it was time to leave."

Noun

The act of closing and opening one eye quickly.

"A quick wink told her that the surprise was ready."

Intransitive Verb

To flash or flicker intermittently, such as a light.

"The distant stars seemed to wink in the night sky."

Noun

A very short period of time, often used in the phrase in the wink of an eye.

"The accident happened in the wink of an eye."

Related Words

Last Updated: June 14, 2026Report an Error