Flicker

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Flicker

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

FLIK-er  /ˈflɪkə/

Definition

As a verb: to shine or burn unsteadily, with rapidly varying light; to appear or occur briefly and intermittently. As a noun: an unsteady trembling light; a brief, uncertain manifestation of something.

Plain meaning

An unsteady, wavering light that goes bright and dim repeatedly. Also: a brief, uncertain sign of something — a flicker of hope, a flicker of recognition.

Register

Neutral to evocative. The light sense is standard and technical. The figurative sense is widely used in literary, emotional, and descriptive contexts.