English Dictionary

TINSEL (tinselled, tinselling)

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

Irregular inflected forms: tinselled  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation, tinselling  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tinsel mean? 

TINSEL (noun)
  The noun TINSEL has 2 senses:

1. a showy decoration that is basically valuelessplay

2. a thread with glittering metal foil attachedplay

  Familiarity information: TINSEL used as a noun is rare.


TINSEL (verb)
  The verb TINSEL has 3 senses:

1. impart a cheap brightness toplay

2. adorn with tinselplay

3. interweave with tinselplay

  Familiarity information: TINSEL used as a verb is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


TINSEL (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A showy decoration that is basically valueless

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

all the tinsel of self-promotion

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

decoration; ornament; ornamentation (something used to beautify)

Derivation:

tinsel (adorn with tinsel)

tinsel (impart a cheap brightness to)

tinselly (glittering with gold or silver)


Sense 2

Meaning:

A thread with glittering metal foil attached

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

thread; yarn (a fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving)

Derivation:

tinsel (interweave with tinsel)

tinsel (adorn with tinsel)

tinselly (glittering with gold or silver)


TINSEL (verb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Impart a cheap brightness to

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

his tinseled image of Hollywood

Hypernyms (to "tinsel" is one way to...):

add; bestow; bring; contribute; impart; lend (bestow a quality on)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

tinsel (a showy decoration that is basically valueless)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Adorn with tinsel

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

snow flakes tinseled the trees

Hypernyms (to "tinsel" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tinsel (a thread with glittering metal foil attached)

tinsel (a showy decoration that is basically valueless)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Interweave with tinsel

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

tinseled velvet

Hypernyms (to "tinsel" is one way to...):

interweave; weave (interlace by or as if by weaving)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tinsel (a thread with glittering metal foil attached)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"In for a penny, in for a pound." (English proverb)

"Wisdom comes only when you stop looking for it and start living the life the Creator intended for you." (Native American proverb, Hopi)

"If you had an opinion you better be determined." (Arabic proverb)

"Well started is half won." (Dutch proverb)



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