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wink (wĭngk)
Share:
v. winked, wink·ing, winks
v.intr.
1. To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion.
2. To close and open the eyelids of both eyes; blink.
3. To shine fitfully; twinkle: Harbor lights were winking in the distance.
v.tr.
1. To close and open (an eye or the eyes) rapidly.
2. To signal or express by winking: winked his agreement.
n.
1.
a. The act of winking.
b. A signal or hint conveyed by winking.
2. The very brief time required for a wink; an instant.
3. A quick closing and opening of the eyelids; a blink.
4. A gleam or twinkle.
5. Informal A brief period of sleep.
Phrasal Verbs:
wink at
To pretend not to see: winked at corruption in the ministry.
wink out
To come to a close; end.
[Middle English winken, to close one's eyes, from Old English wincian.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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