Dictionary

flicker en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈflɪkə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈflɪkɚ/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An unsteady flash of light.
   • the flicker of an old movie
   • the flicker of the dying candle
2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A short moment.
   • a flicker of recognition passed through my mind.
   • a flicker of emotion
   • a flicker of hope
   • It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 8, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

flickersome · flickerless · Flicker Alley · flimmer · flicker wheel · flicker fixer · flicker show · flicker noise · flickery

Translations (56)

ru мгнове́ние (a short moment) · ro licărire (an unsteady flash of light) · da glimt (a short moment) · ka ელვარება (an unsteady flash of light) · ka ციალი (an unsteady flash of light) · no flimre (an unsteady flash of light) · pl błysk (an unsteady flash of light) · fr papillotement (an unsteady flash of light) · ka გამოკრთომა (an unsteady flash of light) · sv ögonblick (a short moment) · eo flagreti (an unsteady flash of light) · it guizzo (an unsteady flash of light) · uk мерехті́ння (an unsteady flash of light) · it tremolio (an unsteady flash of light) · fi lepatus (an unsteady flash of light) · pl mgnienie (a short moment) · pt instante (a short moment) · ru миг (a short moment) · ru вспы́шка (an unsteady flash of light) · sv glimt (a short moment) · ro scânteiere (an unsteady flash of light) · ar وَمْضَة (an unsteady flash of light) · ka ბჟუტვა (an unsteady flash of light) · ar وَمِيض (an unsteady flash of light) · ka კამკამი (an unsteady flash of light) · eu ñirñir (an unsteady flash of light) · ka ბრწყინვა (an unsteady flash of light) · ka კაშკაში (an unsteady flash of light) · it fremito (a short moment) · da flimren (an unsteady flash of light) · bg блещукане (an unsteady flash of light) · ka კვესა (an unsteady flash of light) · pt bruxuleio (an unsteady flash of light) · ka გაელვება (an unsteady flash of light) · fi väläys (a short moment) · sv flimmer (an unsteady flash of light) · bg мъждукане (an unsteady flash of light) · de Flackern (an unsteady flash of light) · ka აელვარება (an unsteady flash of light) · es titileo (an unsteady flash of light) · ro clipă (a short moment) · ru мерца́ние (an unsteady flash of light) · ar طَرْفَة (a short moment) · ka ციმციმი (an unsteady flash of light) · ka კიაფი (an unsteady flash of light) · de Flimmern (an unsteady flash of light) · hy նշույլ (a short moment) · ka კრთომა (an unsteady flash of light) · mi tiritiri (an unsteady flash of light) · fi häivähdys (a short moment) · ro licăr (an unsteady flash of light) · es titilación (an unsteady flash of light) · ro sclipire (an unsteady flash of light) · ar وَمْضَة (a short moment) · es centelleo (an unsteady flash of light) · fr scintillement (an unsteady flash of light)

flicker en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈflɪkə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈflɪkɚ/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To burn or shine unsteadily, or with a wavering light.
   • The shadows flicker to and fro. 1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The Death of the Old Year”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
   • Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth and heaping kindling on the coals, […] 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
2. (intransitive) To keep going on and off; to appear and disappear for short moments; to flutter.
   • I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, / And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, / And in short, I was afraid. 1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, page 13:
   • He watched confusion start to flicker in her eyes , followed by a flutter of panic. 2024, Carol Marinelli, Bride Under Contract, Harlequin:
   • A strong desire to smash up everything in the room kept flickering in his head.
   • 1967, Barry Mason (writer), Tom Jones (performer), Delilah I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window / I saw the flickering shadow of love on her blind
   • The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling; the oaken settles, shiny with long wear, exchanged cheerful glances with each other; plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf, and the merry firelight flickered and played over everything without distinction. 1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC:
   • In a city where media companies and hospitals have armed guards, this accessibility is unusual. Inside, drivers sit and chat in between shifts, the overhead fan whirring and causing the dim electric light to flicker over their faces. 2017 April 6, Samira Shackle, “On the frontline with Karachi’s ambulance drivers”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC:
   • There I lay on one side with a thin and rotten plank between the dead man and me, dazed with the blow to my head, and breathing hard; while the glow of torches as they came down the passage reddened and flickered on the roof above. [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
3. (ambitransitive) To flutter or flap.
   • And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
   • But the child saw her; was it possible? He turned his head towards her, and flickered his baby hands, and cooed with that indescribable voice that goes to every woman's heart. 1884, Margaret Oliphant, Old Lady Mary:

Forms

Deriveds

flickersome · flicker goon · aflicker · flickertail · upflicker · flickerer · flickery

Translations (62)

mi teretere (to burn or shine unsteadily) · it guizzare (to burn or shine unsteadily) · mi pūrēhua (to burn or shine unsteadily) · pt piscar (to keep going on and off) · de flackern (to burn or shine unsteadily) · pt tremular (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ka კიაფობს (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ru мерца́ть (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ka ციალებს (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ar خفَقَ (to burn or shine unsteadily) · kl angaluppoq (to keep going on and off) · ro licări (to burn or shine unsteadily) · pl migotać (to keep going on and off) · ca parpellejar (to burn or shine unsteadily) · cmn 閃爍 /闪烁 (to burn or shine unsteadily) · kl anorliorpoq (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ka იელვებს (to burn or shine unsteadily) · it tremolare (to burn or shine unsteadily) · mi kōpura (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ka ბჟუტავს (to burn or shine unsteadily) · cmn 忽隱忽現 /忽隐忽现 (to keep going on and off) · eo flagri (to burn or shine unsteadily) · bg блещукам (to burn or shine unsteadily) · de flimmern (to burn or shine unsteadily) · fa سو سو زدن (to burn or shine unsteadily) · sv flimra (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ca pampalluguejar (to keep going on and off) · ar يَخْتَلِج (to burn or shine unsteadily) · fr vaciller (to burn or shine unsteadily) · fi lepattaa (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ru мига́ть (to keep going on and off) · pt bruxulear (to burn or shine unsteadily) · da flimre (to burn or shine unsteadily) · cmn 搖曳 /摇曳 (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ka კამკამებს (to burn or shine unsteadily) · it sfarfallare (to keep going on and off) · fi väristä (to keep going on and off) · fr papilloter (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ka კრთის (to burn or shine unsteadily) · bg трепкам (to keep going on and off) · ka ციმციმებს (to burn or shine unsteadily) · da blinke (to keep going on and off) · sv blinka (to keep going on and off) · ar رَفْرَفَ (to burn or shine unsteadily) · es centellear (to keep going on and off) · fi välkkyä (to keep going on and off) · ka კრთება (to burn or shine unsteadily) · cmn 若隱若現 /若隐若现 (to keep going on and off) · ar يَرْتَعِش (to burn or shine unsteadily) · bg мъждукам (to burn or shine unsteadily) · pl migać (to keep going on and off) · es centellear (to burn or shine unsteadily) · bg проблясвам (to keep going on and off) · fa لپیدن (to burn or shine unsteadily) · es titilar (to keep going on and off) · ca vacil·lar (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ja 揺らめく (to burn or shine unsteadily) · sv glimta (to keep going on and off) · ca pipellejar (to burn or shine unsteadily) · es titilar (to burn or shine unsteadily) · ro pâlpâi (to burn or shine unsteadily) · fr scintiller (to keep going on and off)

flicker en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈflɪkə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈflɪkɚ/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

1808, American English, probably echoic of the bird's call, or from the white spotted plumage which appears to flicker. It is also true that the bird vigorously flicks away treebark, woodchips, and ground detritus while feeding, which may possibly explain the name.

Meanings

1. (US) Any of certain small woodpeckers, especially of the genus Colaptes.

Forms

Deriveds

gilded flicker · Campo flicker · Caribbean flicker · yellow-shafted flicker · Pampas flicker · Guatemalan flicker · Bermuda flicker · red-shafted flicker · Andean flicker · Chilean flicker · northern flicker · Fernandina's flicker

Hypernyms

animal · creature · bird · woodpecker

Translations (7)

de Goldspecht (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes) · fi kultatikka (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes) · hy ամերիկյան փայտփորիկ (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes) · hu küllő (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes) · pl dzięcioł (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes) · pot wézawangé (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes) · ru дя́тел (Small woodpecker of the genus Colaptes)

flicker en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /ˈflɪkə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈflɪkɚ/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English flick Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English flicker From flick + -er.

Meanings

1. One who flicks.
2. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, ellipsis) Ellipsis of channel flicker (“remote control”).
   alt of channel flicker

Forms

Deriveds

flea flicker · bean flicker · channel flicker