flicker

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   move back and forth very rapidly

   the candle flickered

2. 2
   verb

   shine unsteadily

   The candle flickered

3. 3
   noun

   An unsteady flash of light.

   the flicker of the dying candle

4. 4
   noun

   A short moment.

   a flicker of emotion

5. 5
   verb

   To burn or shine unsteadily, or with a wavering light.

   The shadows flicker to and fro.

6. 6
   verb

   To keep going on and off; to appear and disappear for short moments; to flutter.

   A strong desire to smash up everything in the room kept flickering in his head.

7. 7
   verb

   To flutter or flap.

   And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing.

8. 8
   noun

   the act of moving back and forth

Etymology

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”).