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tin·kle

(tĭngkəl)

v. tin·kled, tin·kling, tin·kles

v.intr.

1. To make light metallic sounds, as those of a small bell.

2. Informal To urinate.

v.tr.

1. To cause to tinkle.

2. To signal or call by tinkling.

1. A light, clear metallic sound or a sound suggestive of it.

2. An act or instance of tinkling.

[Middle English tinklen, frequentative of tinken, to emit a brief metallic sound, perhaps of imitative origin.]

tinkly adj.

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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