verb
flicker
FLIH-kuh
verb
1
To shine or burn unsteadily, with light that wavers.
"The candle flickered in the draft."
2
To appear and disappear briefly; to flutter.
"A smile flickered across her face."
noun
1
An unsteady, wavering flash of light.
"They saw the flicker of a campfire in the distance."
2
A type of small woodpecker.
"A flicker tapped away at the old oak tree."
How to Use Flicker
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn unsteady, brief light or motion — a candle flickers, or a feeling flickers across someone's face.
Common pairings
flicker of light
flicker of hope
flicker across someone's face
Word Forms
flickered past tense, flickers plural, flickers plural, Flickers plural, flickers singular
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Etymology
From Old English flicorian ("to flutter"), related to Old English fleogan ("to fly").