What does "tinkle" mean?
A light metallic sound, resembling the tinkling of bells or wind chimes.
Tinkle
/ˈtɪŋkəl/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A light metallic sound, resembling the tinkling of bells or wind chimes.
- Grammar: tinkle is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: babble, bump, call, change ringing.
- Useful contrasts: dampen, mute, quiet.
- Usage evidence: When they gave her the piggy bank, the first thing Laura did was put in a couple of coins and shake it to hear it tinkle.
How to use "tinkle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tinkle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tinkle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tinkle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tinkle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tinkle" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "babble" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tinkle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A light metallic sound, resembling the tinkling of bells or wind chimes. countable, uncountable
"The Man's Wife heard the tinkle-tinkle of little stones and loose earth falling off the roadway, and the sliding roar of the man and horse going down."
- 2 a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell wordnet
- 3 A telephone call. UK, countable, informal, uncountable
"Give me a tinkle when you arrive."
- 4 An act of urination. countable, euphemistic, informal, uncountable
- 5 Urine. countable, euphemistic, informal, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To make light metallic sounds, rather like a very small bell. intransitive
"The glasses tinkled together as they were placed on the table."
- 2 make or emit a high sound wordnet
- 3 To cause to tinkle. transitive
- 4 To indicate, signal, etc. by tinkling. transitive
"The butler tinkled dinner."
- 5 To hear, or resound with, a small, sharp sound.
"And his ears tinkled, and the colour fled."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To urinate. informal, intransitive
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"When they gave her the piggy bank, the first thing Laura did was put in a couple of coins and shake it to hear it tinkle."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tinkle"?
Common synonyms include: babble, bump, call, change ringing, chat, chatter.
How do you use "tinkle" in a sentence?
When they gave her the piggy bank, the first thing Laura did was put in a couple of coins and shake it to hear it tinkle.
How do you pronounce "tinkle"?
Pronounced /ˈtɪŋkəl/.
Etymology
From Middle English tinclen, equivalent to tink + -le (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian tinkelje (“to tinkle”), Dutch tinkelen (“to tinkle”), German Low German tinkeln (“to flicker, glitter, sparkle”).