tinkle
Tinkle (verb) means to make a light, high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell. Example: “Wind chimes tinkled softly on the porch.”
How to use tinkle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, delicate ringing noise, or to make one.
Informally, "tinkle" is also childish slang for urinating — keep that in mind in formal writing.
Word forms
tinkled past tense, tinkles plural, Tinkles plural, tinkles singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wind chimes _____ softly on the porch.
Etymology
From Middle English tinclen, built from "tink" plus a suffix showing repeated action — related to similar words in Dutch and German for glittering or flickering sounds.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tinkle
See all rhymes for tinkle →Frequently asked questions
What does “tinkle” mean?
The word “tinkle” means to make a light, high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell. In plain terms, a small, delicate ringing noise, or to make one.
How do you pronounce “tinkle”?
“Tinkle” is pronounced TIHNG-kuhl (/ˈtɪŋkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tinkle” in a sentence?
Here is “tinkle” used in a sentence: “Wind chimes tinkled softly on the porch.”
What part of speech is “tinkle”?
Depending on how it is used, “tinkle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “tinkle” come from?
The word “tinkle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tinclen, built from "tink" plus a suffix showing repeated action — related to similar words in Dutch and German for glittering or flickering sounds.
How many meanings does “tinkle” have?
“Tinkle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a light, high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell.