tinkle

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verb

tin·​kle ˈtiŋ-kəl 

tinkled; tinkling ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

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

2

: urinate

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

Synonyms

Verb

• chink
• clink
• jingle
• tingle

Noun

• chime(s)
• jingle
• tintinnabulation

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

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

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

Phrases Containing tinkle

• give someone a tinkle
• have/take a tinkle

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