tinkle

1 of 2

verb

tin·​kle ˈtiŋ-kəl How to pronounce tinkle (audio)
tinkled; tinkling ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tinkle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to make or emit a tinkle or a sound suggestive of a tinkle
2

transitive verb

1
: to sound or make known (the time) by a tinkle
2
a
: to cause to make a tinkle
b
: to produce by tinkling
tinkle a tune

tinkle

2 of 2

noun

1
: a series of short high ringing or clinking sounds
2
: a jingling effect in verse or prose

Examples of tinkle in a Sentence

Verb The ice tinkled in the glass. A piano was tinkling in the background. He tinkled a small bell. Noun the soothing tinkle of the wind chime on the back porch
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Guests in silk blouses and slacks sipped scotch while the piano man tinkled the keys. Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024 That had to have felt like Old Man Winter tinkling on his shoulder. Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
Noun
The door chime at their floral and gift shop tinkles every few minutes as another customer and friend comes in to collect their $10 bows. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024 On our first evening the piano bar—resplendent in gold Thai silks, with tiger orchids blooming across the green carpet—was filled with laughter, the glug-glug-glug of Champagne pouring, and the tinkle of keys. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for tinkle 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, frequentative of tinken to tinkle, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tinkle was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tinkle

Cite this Entry

“Tinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinkle. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tinkle

verb
tin·​kle
ˈtiŋ-kəl
tinkled; tinkling
-k(ə-)liŋ
: to make or cause to make a series of short high ringing or clinking sounds
tinkle noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tinkle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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