Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Old French
Origin: flenchir 'to turn aside'

flinch

 verb
     
flinch also flinch away [intransitive]
1 to move your face or body away from someone or something because you are in pain, frightened, or upset
flinch at
She flinched at the touch of his hand.
flinch from
The boy flinched away from him.
2 to feel embarrassed or upset
flinch at
Jo flinched at her sister's insensitivity.
3

not flinch from (doing) something

to be willing to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant:
He never flinched from doing his duty.
[↪ unflinching]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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