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v. blinked, blink·ing, blinks v.intr. 1. To close and open one or both of the eyes rapidly. 2. To look in astonishment or disbelief, typically with the eyes blinking: stood blinking at the money they found in the drawer; blinked at the results of the experiment. 3. To look through half-closed eyes, as in a bright glare; squint: blinked at the page trying to make out the letters. 4. To give off light with intermittent gleams; flash on and off: "blazing neon signs, brilliant shop windows, decorations blinking across the fronts of half-finished tower blocks" (Jess Row). 5. To pretend to be ignorant of; disregard or condone: a mayor who refused to blink at corruption. 6. To waver or back down, as in a contest of wills: "This was the first genuine, direct confrontation between this administration and the Soviets. It was the U.S.A. that blinked" (Zbigniew Brzezinski). v.tr. 1. To cause to blink: blinked his eyes to clear his vision. 2. To hold back or remove from the eyes by blinking: blinked back the tears. 3. To refuse to recognize or face: blink ugly facts. 4. To transmit (a message) with a flashing light. n. Idioms: 1. The act or an instance of rapidly closing and opening the eyes or an eye. 2. An instant: I'll be back in a blink. 3. Scots A quick look or glimpse; a glance. 4. A flash of light; a twinkle. 5. See iceblink. in the blink of an eye Very quickly. on the blink Out of working order. without blinking an eye Without showing any reaction. |
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