to nictitate
1
9.9
- verb
- /ˈnɪk.tɪ.teɪt/
- Specialized
:
parpadear
- nictitating membrane
- third nictitating eyelid
Examples
-
They have nictitating lenses over their eyes...
-
I see her eyes flicker, though the nictitating membrane closes as she does it.
Fiction book (2001) -
No noses, just broad flat nostrils with nictitating membranes.
Fiction book (2000) -
Later, O'Rourke had a real breakthrough when she discovered that prions collect in pockets of lymphoid tissue in a sheep's nictitating membrane, or third eyelid.
Academic text (2004) -
That question was answered when one of them came and 'smiled' for the camera, literally inches away from me, its protective nictitating membrane flickering across its eye, a reflex action when anything comes within 'touching' range of its incredible predatory maw.
Blog text (7) -
As the bright light flashed, he instinctively nictitated to protect his eyes.
-
Some reptiles can nictitate to keep their eyes moist while hunting.
-
When startled, the bird nictitated briefly before taking flight.
Synonyms
181
1.0
To close and open the eyelids quickly without thinking
To close and open the eyes quickly
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
nictitate = nictit + ate
The verb is formed with a learned combining form 'nictit-' plus the scholarly suffix '-ate'; the root is not a recognizable standalone English word, so typical learners cannot derive the meaning from its parts.
Etymology
Nictitate comes from the old Latin verb nictare, which meant 'to wink' or 'blink', so to nictitate is to briefly close the eyes like a quick wink.