Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Middle Dutch
Origin: blinken 'to shine'

blink

1 verb
     
Related topics: Human
blink1
1 [intransitive and transitive]HBH to shut and open your eyes quickly:
I blinked as I came out into the sunlight.
2 [intransitive] if lights blink, they shine unsteadily or go on and off quickly:
The light on your answering machine is blinking.
3

not (even) blink

to not seem at all surprised:
When I told her how much it would cost, she didn't even blink.
4

before you could blink

spoken extremely quickly
5

blink back/away tears

to shut and open your eyes in order to get rid of tears:
Lynn laughed, blinking back unexpected tears.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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