tinkling
/ˈtɪŋ.kəl/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɪŋkəlɪŋ] /ˈtɪŋ.kəl/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɪŋkəlɪŋ] /ˈtiŋ-kəl How to pronounce tinkle (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tinkling — verb
- tinklingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tinklings3rd person singular
- tinklinging-ing form
- tinklingedpast simple
1. to make short, high sounds like those of a very small bell or a piece of tapped
to make short, high sounds like those of a very small bell or a piece of tapped glass
Quan's bracelet tinkled softly as she reached for the teapot.
adverb collocation: tinkle softly
The wind chimes tinkled on Ingrid's balcony all through the night.
Small bells tinkled from the pony's harness as it walked past.
Devika tapped her spoon against the cup, making it tinkle.
Ice cubes tinkled in Leo's glass as he poured the lemonade.
文法句型
tinkle + adverb phrase
tinkle + prepositional phrase of location
用法筆記
Subject is usually a small object — bells, glass, metal, or ice — rather than a large instrument like a church bell or gong.
常見錯誤
2. to pass urine from the body; a gentle word used mainly by or to young children
to pass urine from the body; a gentle word used mainly by or to young children
Ilan pulled over at the rest stop so the children could tinkle.
informal register: 'could tinkle' for urinate
Gabriela asked the toddler if she needed to tinkle before the long ride.
'Mummy, I need to tinkle,' whispered Emre during the ceremony.
The puppy tinkled on the kitchen floor right after lunch.
文法句型
tinkle
need to tinkle
go tinkle
用法筆記
Used mainly with young children or in very informal family settings. More common in British English than American English. Avoid in formal or professional contexts.
常見錯誤
tinkling — noun
1. a string of short, high, clear sounds, like those made by tiny bells or glass ta
a string of short, high, clear sounds, like those made by tiny bells or glass tapping together
A soft tinkling came from the wind chimes on Chidi's porch.
a [adjective] tinkling pattern
Liang paused, listening to the tinkling of ice in his glass.
The tinkling of bracelets followed Zuri as she danced across the room.
From the temple came the faint tinkling of dozens of tiny bells.
Christopher stirred his tea, and a gentle tinkling filled the quiet room.
文法句型
the tinkling of [objects]
a [adjective] tinkling
2. in writing, an effect where words are chosen for their pretty sounds rather than
in writing, an effect where words are chosen for their pretty sounds rather than their meaning, often felt to be too decorative
Folake removed the tinkling from her poem, favouring plainer words.
literary register: 'removed the tinkling from her poem'
The reviewer complained about the tinkling in the poet's latest work.
Too much tinkling in the opening paragraph made the prose feel shallow.
The writing tutor circled every passage that slipped into tinkling.
文法句型
the tinkling in [a work]
avoid tinkling
用法筆記
Used in literary criticism to describe verse or prose that relies too heavily on pretty sounds at the expense of meaning and depth. Often carries a negative judgement.