1. To close and open one or both of the eyes rapidly.

2. To look in astonishment or disbelief, typically with the eyes blinking: stood blinking at the money they found in the drawer; blinked at the results of the experiment.

3. To look through half-closed eyes, as in a bright glare; squint: blinked at the page trying to make out the letters.

4. To give off light with intermittent gleams; flash on and off: "blazing neon signs, brilliant shop windows, decorations blinking across the fronts of half-finished tower blocks" (Jess Row).

5. To pretend to be ignorant of; disregard or condone: a mayor who refused to blink at corruption.

6. To waver or back down, as in a contest of wills: "This was the first genuine, direct confrontation between this administration and the Soviets. It was the U.S.A. that blinked" (Zbigniew Brzezinski).

1. To cause to blink: blinked his eyes to clear his vision.

2. To hold back or remove from the eyes by blinking: blinked back the tears.

3. To refuse to recognize or face: blink ugly facts.

4. To transmit (a message) with a flashing light.

1. The act or an instance of rapidly closing and opening the eyes or an eye.

2. An instant: I'll be back in a blink.

3. Scots A quick look or glimpse; a glance.

4. A flash of light; a twinkle.

5. See iceblink.