BLINKING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does blinking mean? 

• BLINKING (noun)
  The noun BLINKING has 1 sense:

1. a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

  Familiarity information: BLINKING used as a noun is very rare.

• BLINKING (adjective)
  The adjective BLINKING has 2 senses:

1. closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly

2. informal intensifiers

  Familiarity information: BLINKING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLINKING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

blink; blinking; eye blink; nictation; nictitation; wink; winking

Hypernyms ("blinking" is a kind of...):

inborn reflex; innate reflex; instinctive reflex; physiological reaction; reflex; reflex action; reflex response; unconditioned reflex (an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blinking"):

palpebration (repeated blinking or winking (especially if uncontrolled and persistent))

Derivation:

blink (briefly shut the eyes)

• BLINKING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly

Synonyms:

blinking; winking

Context example:

he stood blinking in the bright sunlight

Similar:

closed; shut (used especially of mouth or eyes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Informal intensifiers

Synonyms:

bally; blinking; bloody; blooming; crashing; flaming; fucking

Context example:

you flaming idiot

Similar:

unmitigated (not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier)

 Context examples 

What with her natural blindness, and what with the change from dark to light, she stood as one dazed, blinking about her to see where and who we were.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I rolled off and over to the deck on my back, gasping and blinking in the sunshine.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

‘I can promise you the one, but not the other,’ he snarled, and so turned his rounded back upon me, and went peering and blinking out of the room.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the seizure.

(Petit Mal Epilepsy, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

There are also specific eyelid problems, including: • Eyelids that turn in or out • Eyelids that droop • Abnormal blinking or twitching

(Eyelid Disorders, NIH)

Epilepsy characterized by very brief episodes of sudden cessation of activity, usually associated with eye blinking.

(Petit Mal Epilepsy, NCI Thesaurus)

“This here's an unlucky ship, this HISPANIOLA, Jim,” he went on, blinking.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“How of that, Alleyne?” continued Sir Nigel, blinking at his squire, with an expression of some pride upon his face.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The last remark was addressed to Von Bork himself, who after much gasping and blinking had lain quietly listening to Holmes’s statement.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There is one blinking light of caution at this December 11 full moon.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)