flicker

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English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English flikeren (“to flutter”), from Old English flicerian, flicorian (“to flutter”). Akin to Dutch flikkeren (“to flutter”).

Noun

flicker (plural flickers)

  1. An unsteady flash of light.
  2. A short moment.
Translations
an unsteady flash of light
a short moment

Verb

flicker (third-person singular simple present flickers, present participle flickering, simple past and past participle flickered)

  1. (intransitive) To burn or shine unsteadily. To burn or shine with a wavering light.
    • 1907, Robert Chambers, chapter 3, The Younger Set[1]:
      Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped ; … .
  2. (intransitive) To keep going on and off; to appear and disappear for short moments; to flutter.
    • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 3
      There I lay on one side with a thin and rotten plank between the dead man and me, dazed with the blow to my head, and breathing hard; while the glow of torches as they came down the passage reddened and flickered on the roof above.
    • 1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
      The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling; the oaken settles, shiny with long wear, exchanged cheerful glances with each other; plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf, and the merry firelight flickered and played over everything without distinction.
Translations
to burn or shine unsteadily
to keep going on and off

Etymology 2

1808, American English, probably echoic of the bird's call, or from the white spotted plumage which appears to flicker.

Noun

flicker (plural flickers)

A Northern flicker
  1. (US) A certain type of small woodpecker, especially of the genus Colaptes
Translations
Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes
See also
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Last modified on 20 May 2013, at 15:46