flicker

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈflɪkɚ/ UK /ˈflɪkə/ See IPA manual

Freq #24428

Meanings

1

verb
To shine or burn with an unsteady, wavering light.

The candle flickered in the draught from the open window.
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

noun
A brief, unsteady flash of light.

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

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to shine or burn with an... flick

2 verb · to appear briefly and then... flutter

Word family

Forms flickeredflickeringflickers

Derived forms aflickerflickererflickerlessflickersomeflickertailflickeryflimmerupflicker

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”).

flikeren Middle English flicerian Old English *flikurōn Proto-West Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# flicker

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈflɪkɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈflɪkə/
**Frequency rank:** 24428

## Meanings
1. To shine or burn with an unsteady, wavering light.
2. To appear briefly and then disappear; to come and go quickly.
3. A brief, unsteady flash of light.
4. A brief, faint trace of a feeling or quality.

## Examples
- The candle flickered in the draught from the open window.
- A faint smile flickered across her face before she turned away.
- He saw the flicker of the dying candle from across the room.
- There was a flicker of emotion in his eyes when he heard the news.

## Derived Forms
- aflicker
- flickerer
- flickerless
- flickersome
- flickertail
- flickery
- flimmer
- upflicker

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: flikeren
- Root: flicerian
- Root: *flikurōn

## 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”).

## AI Etymology
Flicker is 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”). In present-day use, it can mean to shine or burn with an unsteady, wavering light, or to appear briefly and then disappear; to come and go quickly. Derived formations include aflicker, flickerer, flickerless, flickersome, flickertail.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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