flicker

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To shine or burn with an unsteady, wavering light.

   The candle flickered in the draught from the open window.

2. 2
   verb

   To appear briefly and then disappear; to come and go quickly.

   A faint smile flickered across her face before she turned away.

3. 3
   noun

   A brief, unsteady flash of light.

   He saw the flicker of the dying candle from across the room.

4. 4
   noun

   A brief, faint trace of a feeling or quality.

   There was a flicker of emotion in his eyes when he heard the news.

From Middle English flikeren (“to flutter”), from Old English flicerian, flicorian (“to flutter”), from Proto-West Germanic *flikurōn. Akin to Saterland Frisian flikkerje (“to flicker”), West Frisian flikkerje (“to flicker”), Dutch flikkeren (“to flicker, flutter”), German Low German flickern (“to light up, flash, flicker”). Compare Old English flacor (“flickering, fluttering”), German flackern (“to flicker, flutter”), Old English flēogan (“to fly”).

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