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BLINKING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly
Synonyms:
blink; blinking; eye blink; nictation; nictitation; wink; winking
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
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)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Informal intensifiers
Example:
you flaming idiot
Synonyms:
bally; blinking; bloody; blooming; crashing; flaming; fucking
Classified under:
Similar:
unmitigated (not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
Example:
he stood blinking in the bright sunlight
Synonyms:
blinking; winking
Classified under:
Similar:
closed; shut (used especially of mouth or eyes)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb blink
Context examples:
Best of all, perhaps, he loved to lie near the fire, hind legs crouched under him, fore legs stretched out in front, head raised, and eyes blinking dreamily at the flames.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
Include frowning, blinking, grimacing of upper face.
(AIMS - Muscles of Facial Expression, NCI Thesaurus)
She was soon my child-wife indeed; sitting down on the floor outside the Chinese House, ringing all the little bells one after another, to punish Jip for his recent bad behaviour; while Jip lay blinking in the doorway with his head out, even too lazy to be teased.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
After that, grateful and content, White Fang lay at Grey Beaver's feet, gazing at the fire that warmed him, blinking and dozing, secure in the knowledge that the morrow would find him, not wandering forlorn through bleak forest-stretches, but in the camp of the man-animals, with the gods to whom he had given himself and upon whom he was now dependent.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
Doctors use it in small doses to treat health problems, including: • Temporary smoothing of facial wrinkles and improving your appearance • Severe underarm sweating • Cervical dystonia - a neurological disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder muscle contractions • Blepharospasm - uncontrollable blinking • Strabismus - misaligned eyes • Chronic migraine • Overactive bladder
(Botox, NIH)
The latter was blinking in the bright light of the corridor, and peering at us and at the smouldering fire.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He fell to the floor, half stunned for the moment, breathing heavily and blinking his eyes in a stupid sort of way.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Sir Nigel sprang lightly upon the trunk, and stood with blinking eye and firm lips looking down at the ring of upturned warlike faces.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Blinking also helps move dirt or other particles off the surface of the eye.
(Eyelid Disorders, NIH)
I sit with my eye on Mr. Creakle, blinking at him like a young owl; when sleep overpowers me for a minute, he still looms through my slumber, ruling those ciphering-books, until he softly comes behind me and wakes me to plainer perception of him, with a red ridge across my back.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
