Tinkle

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈtɪŋkÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋkÉ™l

Full definition of tinkle

Verb

1. (intransitive) To make light metallic sounds, rather like a very small bell.The glasses tinkled together as they were placed on the table.
• DodsleyThe sprightly horse
  Moves to the music of his tinkling bells.
2. (intransitive, informal, juvenile) To urinate.
3. (transitive) To cause to tinkle.
4. (transitive) To indicate, signal, etc. by tinkling.The butler tinkled dinner.
5. To hear, or resound with, a small, sharp sound.
• DrydenAnd his ears tinkled, and the colour fled.

Related terms

• tinkle the ivories

Noun

1. A light metallic sound, resembling the tinkling of bells or wind chimes.
• 1994, Stephen Fry, The Hippopotamus, ch. 2:At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. . . . There were no sounds of any movement upstairs: no shouts, no sleepy grumbles, only a gentle tinkle from the decorations as the tree had recovered from the collision.
2. (UK, informal) A telephone call.Give someone a tinkle.