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blink

blink

58 1.0
A quick closing and opening of the eyelids
  • noun
  • /blɪŋk/
: parpadeo
  • Life is so beautiful, every moment a miracle, and yet in a blink it's gone.
  • eye blink
  • blink reflex
  • blink conditioning

And that is poor blink rate and poor eyelid closure.

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Examples

  • He felt a sudden blink of realization as the answer came to him.

  • The great one can be gone in the blink of an eye.

    Academic text (2009)
  • One blink for yes, two for no.

  • Was that a single blink?

  • All this happened in an instant, in the blink of an eye.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The entire process takes only three milliseconds, a fraction of the blink of an eye.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The shutter is clicked... ...the flash goes off... ...and they've stopped time... ...if just for the blink of an eye.

  • His thin face was expressionless for a blink, then it broke into an expansive, blissful smile.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • With just a brief blink, she missed the beautiful sunset.

  • In the blink of an eye, the scene changed from peaceful to chaotic.

Synonyms

eye blink
vsblink
15 1.0

A quick closing and opening of an eyelid that keeps the eye wet and protected

is a quick reflex eyelid action not focused on protection or moistening
nictitation
vsblink
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A quick blinking of the eyelids without thinking

is the everyday form rather than a technical term
nictation
vsblink
  • Specialized
9.9

A quick closing and opening of the eyelids

is the common everyday expression rather than a medical term

Idioms

blink of an eye
  • Informal
34 2.8

A very short moment that passes almost instantly

24 3.3

Very quickly, in almost no time

1 8.3

Very short and easy to miss if you do not look closely

Compounds

15 1.0

A quick closing and opening of an eyelid that keeps the eye wet and protected

How Quick

to flutter
1 3.7
blink
58 1.0
to wink
74 1.0

Surface Forms

blink singular
blinks plural

Etymology

Blink comes from an old English word blincan that meant 'to wink' or 'to shine', so a blink is a very quick closing and opening of the eyes that can protect them from dust or danger.