Definition

1. Noun:

   • A momentary flash of light: A very brief, unsteady, or wavering appearance of light.
   • A quick, slight movement: A small, rapid, and often repeated back-and-forth or fluttering motion.
   • A brief, faint feeling or expression: A fleeting or weak occurrence of an emotion, thought, or signal.

2. Verb:

   • To shine or burn unsteadily: To give off light in a quick, irregular, and wavering manner, as if about to go out.
   • To move quickly and lightly back and forth: To flutter, vibrate, or quiver rapidly.
   • To appear briefly or faintly: To be present for a very short, often weak, moment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The flicker of the candle was the only light in the room.
  • He saw a flicker of movement in the shadows.
  • A flicker of doubt crossed her mind.

• Verb:

  • The old neon sign flickered in the night.
  • The leaves flickered in the gentle breeze.
  • Hope still flickered within him.

Advanced Usage

• "A flicker of a smile": A very slight, brief smile.

  • A flicker of a smile appeared on his lips before he turned away.

• "To flicker out": To die away or disappear gradually, like a flame.

  • The last embers of the fire flickered out, leaving us in darkness.

• "Flicker of recognition": A brief moment of remembering or identifying someone or something.

  • There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes when he heard the old song.

Variants and Related Words

• Flickering (adj): Shining or moving with a flicker.

  • The flickering light from the TV screen illuminated the dark room.

• Flick (verb/noun): A related but distinct word meaning a light, quick movement or touch. A "flick" is often a single, sharp motion, whereas "flicker" implies a rapid series of motions or flashes.

  • He gave the switch a flick. (A single action)
  • The candle began to flicker. (A repeated, wavering action)

Synonyms

• Verb: Glimmer, flutter, waver, quiver, blink, twinkle.
• Noun: Glimmer, spark, flutter, quiver, tremor.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Flicker out: To fade and die away, especially of a light or flame.
  • As the power failed, all the lights in the city flickered out one by one.

Related Idioms

• Not a flicker of emotion: Showing no emotional reaction at all.

  • He listened to the bad news without a flicker of emotion.

• The flicker of an eyelid: A very small, almost imperceptible movement, often used to indicate a subtle reaction.

  • She didn't show the flicker of an eyelid when he mentioned the secret.

Noun

1. the act of moving back and forth
2. North American woodpecker
3. a momentary flash of light

Verb

1. flash intermittently
   • The lights flicked on and off
2. shine unsteadily
   • The candle flickered
3. move back and forth very rapidly
   • the candle flickered