From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_352_awinkwink1 /wɪŋk/ ●●○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]SIGN/GESTURE to close and open one eye quickly to communicate something or show that something is a secret or jokewink at He winked mischievously at Erica. He winked an eye at his companion.2 [intransitive]SHINE to shine with a light that flashes on and off SYN blink a Christmas tree with lights winking on and off → wink at something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
wink• Ben grinned at his father and winked.• Around one wrist a gold Rolex winked at her.• "The weather's so nice, I'm thinking of calling in sick tomorrow, " she said, winking at me.• Then Frank bursting at once into song, laughing and winking at me.• The murderer has to wink at other children in the room.• Bunsen burners, Petri dishes, retorts and test tube holders winked enticingly.• Christmas lights were winking in the tree.• Two marker posts with winking lights had appeared on the horizon, and the bus was steering between them.• The sky was filled with stars, all winking mysteriously.• She winked, snapping her gum as her fingers darted over the adding-machine buttons.wink at• I swear she just winked at me and smiled.winkwink2 ●●○ noun 1 [countable]SIGN/GESTURE a quick action of closing and opening one eye, usually as a signal to someone else He gave her a wink. ‘You look tired, ’ he said with a knowing wink.2 → not get a wink of sleep/not sleep a wink → forty winks, → a nod’s as good as a wink at nod2(4), → tip somebody the wink at tip2(11)Examples from the Corpus
wink• Tipping a wink at the typing pool.• The dimensions of time have shriveled to a wink.• "How are you girls?" Tom asked with a wink.• "Don't worry, " he said with a wink. "I won't tell anyone about this."• More than that - Jess saw the nod and wink exchanged.• Mike shook his head in mock regret; catching my eye, he gave me his wink.• She leant across the car and grasped Maura's hand, forcing herself to give her daughter a little wink.• Mitchell was shocked to see the man signaling him with sly winks.• Tip me the wink if I lapse, won't you?gave ... a wink• Mike shook his head in mock regret; catching my eye, he gave me his wink.• He gave her a wink and chased the children upstairs to their rooms.• John gave her a wink and a thumbs-up sign.• But then Ken gave me the wink.• She gave me a little wink, because, of course, they were pointing their telescopic lenses mostly at me.Origin wink1 Old English wincian 