BLINK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does blink mean? 

• BLINK (noun)
  The noun BLINK has 1 sense:

1. a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

  Familiarity information: BLINK used as a noun is very rare.

• BLINK (verb)
  The verb BLINK has 3 senses:

1. briefly shut the eyes

2. keep back by blinking

3. gleam or glow intermittently

  Familiarity information: BLINK used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLINK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

blink; blinking; eye blink; nictation; nictitation; wink; winking

Hypernyms ("blink" is a kind of...):

inborn reflex; innate reflex; instinctive reflex; physiological reaction; reflex; reflex action; reflex response; unconditioned reflex (an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blink"):

palpebration (repeated blinking or winking (especially if uncontrolled and persistent))

Derivation:

blink (briefly shut the eyes)

blink (keep back by blinking)

• BLINK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they blink    ... he / she / it blinks   
Past simple: blinked   
Past participle: blinked   
-ing form: blinking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Briefly shut the eyes

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

blink; nictate; nictitate; wink

Context example:

The TV announcer never seems to blink

Hypernyms (to "blink" is one way to...):

act involuntarily; act reflexively (act in an uncontrolled manner)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blink"):

palpebrate (wink or blink, especially repeatedly)

bat; flutter (wink briefly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

blink; blinking (a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Keep back by blinking

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

blink; blink away; wink

Context example:

blink away tears

Hypernyms (to "blink" is one way to...):

hold back; keep; keep back; restrain (prevent the action or expression of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

blink (a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Gleam or glow intermittently

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

blink; flash; twinkle; wink; winkle

Context example:

The lights were flashing

Hypernyms (to "blink" is one way to...):

radiate (cause to be seen by emitting light as if in rays)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blink"):

flick; flicker (flash intermittently)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

Lights blink on the horizon
The horizon is blinking with lights

Derivation:

blinker (a light that flashes on and off; used as a signal or to send messages)

blinker (a blinking light on a motor vehicle that indicates the direction in which the vehicle is about to turn)

 Context examples 

The signal of FRB 181112 was comprised of a few pulses, each lasting less than 40 microseconds (10 000 times shorter than the blink of an eye).

(Enigmatic radio burst illuminates a galaxy’s tranquil ​halo, ESO)

Include frowning, blinking, grimacing of upper face.

(AIMS - Muscles of Facial Expression, NCI Thesaurus)

When you blink, your eyelids spread moisture over your eyes.

(Eyelid Disorders, NIH)

Mars will want you to forge forward, and Saturn will blink a yellow light and impede you from rushing ahead.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Epilepsy characterized by very brief episodes of sudden cessation of activity, usually associated with eye blinking.

(Petit Mal Epilepsy, NCI Thesaurus)

“How of that, Alleyne?” continued Sir Nigel, blinking at his squire, with an expression of some pride upon his face.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the seizure.

(Petit Mal Epilepsy, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

“This here's an unlucky ship, this HISPANIOLA, Jim,” he went on, blinking.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The last remark was addressed to Von Bork himself, who after much gasping and blinking had lain quietly listening to Holmes’s statement.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He still smiled and blinked, but there was something about his eyes which made me feel very glad that I had it there.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)