See Also: wink(medicine)
wink(1)(dictionary)
wink(2)(dictionary)
wink(3)(dictionary)
wink(4)(dictionary)
wink reflex(medicine)
wink-a-peep(dictionary)
wink 1, verb(dictionary)
wink 2, noun(dictionary)

Mustique (oh) and wink(3) (iou)


Mustique (oh)



a small island in the Caribbean Sea. It is a popular place for rich and famous people to take holidays.

wink(3) (iou)



wink verb1.
[Old English wincian = Old Saxon wincon (Middle Low German, Middle Dutch winken) rel. to Old High German winchan (German winken) move sideways, stagger, nod, from Germanic, from Indo-European base also of WINCE verb1, WINCH verb1.]
verb intrans.
a. Close the eyes. OE-E19.
b. Of the eyes: close. Now arch. rare. ME.
fig.: W. Davenant Shadows vanish when the world's eye wincks Behind a cloud.
verb intrans. Give a significant glance, as of command, assent, invitation, collusion, etc. Usu. foll. by on, to, at. Now rare exc. as passing into sense 7 below. OE.
Addison I winked upon my Friend to take his Leave.
b. verb trans. Bring into a specified state by a glance or nod. rare. M17-E18.
verb intrans. Close and open the eyes momentarily and involuntarily. ME.
Quarterly Review When there is a loud report close at hand we instinctively wink.
b. Of a light, a glowing object, etc.: emit quick intermittent flashes; twinkle. Also (of a thing), disappear or go out suddenly; come on suddenly. L16.
D. Welch He spread his wares..and..moonstones and rubies and sapphires winked at us. R. Silverberg Still the vision went on, and on...Then it was gone, winking out with a snap.
c. Of the eyes: flicker; close and open quickly. Now rare. M17.
verb intrans. Close one eye, as in aiming at a target; aim. ME-L17.
verb intrans. Have the eyes closed in sleep; sleep; doze. LME-M17.
verb intrans. Avoid acknowledging or noticing something faulty, wrong, or improper. Now rare exc. as in wink at below. L15.
W. Cowper Too just to wink, or speak the guilty clear.
verb intrans. Close and open one eye, esp. in a deliberate, intimate, or collusive manner, to convey a message to a person or as a signal of friendliness or good-humoured interest. M19.
Quarterly 'Does wonders for an old guy's libido,' he says, winking at Paula.
verb trans.
a. Close (an eye, the eyes) for a moment, either deliberately as a signal etc. or involuntarily. M19.
H. T. Lane He just..mischievously winked one eye as I left the room.
b. Move swiftly, cause to flicker like an eyelid. rare. L19.
c. Give (a signal), send (a message), etc. by means of a flashing light. E20.
J. Barth The channel buoys winked their various rhythms.
d. Convey (a message) by a wink of the eye. L20.
Phrases: wink at (a) deliberately avoid acknowledging or noticing (an offence, fault, impropriety, etc.); connive at; (b) (now rare or obsolete) disregard or overlook (a fact or occurrence); (c) be complaisant with (a wrongdoer); connive at the doings of. wink away remove (tears) by blinking the eyes. wink hard (now rare) deliberately avoid noticing something. wink on, wink upon wink at.