noun
tinsel
TIHNSL
Tinsel (noun) means Thin, shiny strips of metallic material used as festive decoration, especially draped over Christmas trees. Example: “They wrapped tinsel around the banister for the party.”
noun
1
Thin, shiny strips of metallic material used as festive decoration, especially draped over Christmas trees.
"They wrapped tinsel around the banister for the party."
"The kids loved throwing tinsel over the tree branches."
2
Something that looks impressive or valuable on the surface but is actually cheap or worthless.
"Beneath the tinsel of celebrity, it's a lonely job."
adj
1
Superficially attractive but of little real value; showy.
"The film had a tinsel glamour that hid a weak story."
How to use tinsel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShiny decorative strips, or, figuratively, flashy but hollow appeal.
Common mistake
The figurative sense ("tinsel town," "tinsel glamour") always carries a slightly negative, "all show, no substance" tone.
Common pairings
strands of tinsel
tinsel and glitter
tinsel town
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Word forms
- Plural
- tinsels
- Third person singular
- tinsels
- Past tense
- tinseled, tinselled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They wrapped _____ around the banister for the party.
Etymology
Traces back through Old French to Latin scintilla, "a spark" — the same root that gives us "scintillate" and "stencil."
Frequently asked questions
What does “tinsel” mean?
The word “tinsel” means thin, shiny strips of metallic material used as festive decoration, especially draped over Christmas trees. In plain terms, shiny decorative strips, or, figuratively, flashy but hollow appeal.
How do you pronounce “tinsel”?
“Tinsel” is pronounced TIHNSL (/ˈtɪnsəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tinsel” in a sentence?
Here is “tinsel” used in a sentence: “They wrapped tinsel around the banister for the party.”
What part of speech is “tinsel”?
Depending on how it is used, “tinsel” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “tinsel” come from?
The word “tinsel” comes from Latin. Traces back through Old French to Latin scintilla, "a spark" — the same root that gives us "scintillate" and "stencil.".
How many meanings does “tinsel” have?
“Tinsel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: thin, shiny strips of metallic material used as festive decoration, especially draped over Christmas trees.
