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Glite Dictionary
😉 To blink 👁️ Having eyelids
to palpebrate

to palpebrate

9.9
To close and open the eyelids quickly, often several times
  • verb
  • /ˈpæl.pə.breɪt/
translation icon : parpadear
  • The patient began to palpebrate rapidly as the bright light shone in his eyes.

Examples

  • The cat palpebrates its eyes when it wakes up.

  • He palpebrates whenever he feels sleepy.

  • He would nervously palpebrate whenever asked a difficult question.

  • Some reptiles palpebrate to clear debris from their eyes.

  • The baby started to palpebrate as the flash from the camera startled her.

  • During the allergy test, she had to palpebrate to ease the irritation in her eyes.

  • He often palpebrates when he is tired and trying to stay awake.

Synonyms

to blink
vsto palpebrate
41 2.9

To close and open the eyelids to stop tears from falling

is repeated eyelid action as a general movement not aimed at suppressing feeling
to bat
vsto palpebrate
23 7.4

To quickly close and open the eyelids as a sign

is repeated eyelid movement not aimed at communication
to flutter
vsto palpebrate
10 3.7

To move the eyelids quickly and lightly, like a short blink

is repeated stronger closures rather than light rapid movement
to wink
vsto palpebrate
9 6.2

To blink many times to stop tears or strong feelings

is repeated eyelid movement without the emotional suppression purpose
to bat one's eyes
vsto palpebrate
  • Informal
6.9

To move your eyelashes quickly in a playful way to get what you want

is repeated eyelid movement without playful social intent

Antonyms

to keep one's eyes open
97 3.8

Watch carefully for danger or a chance

How Often

to flutter
35 3.5
to palpebrate
9.9
to blink
181 1.0
to wink
54 1.0

Surface Forms

palpebrate infinitive
palpebrated past
palpebrated past participle
palpebrating present participle
palpebrates third person singular

Morphology

palpebrate = palpebra (opaque) = palpebr + ate

The base is a learned Latin medical form ('palpebr-/palpebra') that is unfamiliar to average learners, so the meaning 'blink / having eyelids' is not derivable from common English vocabulary.

Etymology

Palpebrate comes from the Latin palpebra 'eyelid' and the old verb palpare 'to touch gently'. So imagine your eyelids 'touching' your eye when you blink — that image helps: to palpebrate is to wink or blink, often repeatedly.