TINSEL
tinsel
(noun) a thread with glittering metal foil attached
tinsel
(noun) a showy decoration that is basically valueless; “all the tinsel of self-promotion”
tinsel
(verb) interweave with tinsel; “tinseled velvet”
tinsel
(verb) adorn with tinsel; “snow flakes tinseled the trees”
tinsel
(verb) impart a cheap brightness to; “his tinseled image of Hollywood”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
tinsel (usually uncountable, plural tinsels)
A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
Very thin strips of a glittering, metallic material used as a decoration, and traditionally draped at Christmas time over streamers, paper chains and the branches of Christmas trees.
Anything shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more pretty than valuable.
• William Cowper
Adjective
tinsel (comparative more tinsel, superlative most tinsel)
Glittering, later especially superficially so; gaudy, showy.
Verb
tinsel (third-person singular simple present tinsels, present participle (US) tinseling or (UK) tinselling, simple past and past participle (US) tinseled or (UK) tinselled)
(transitive) To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
• Alexander Pope
(figuratively, transitive) To give a false sparkle to (something).
Anagrams
• ELINTs, SILENT, Teslin, enlist, inlets, leints, listen, silent
Source: Wiktionary
Tin"sel, n. Etym: [F. Ă©tincelle a spark, OF. estincelle, L. scintilla. Cf. Scintillate, Stencil.]
1. A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like. Who can discern the tinsel from the gold Dryden.
2. Something shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more gay than valuable. O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel, hers the rich reward. Cowper.
Tin"sel, a.
Definition: Showy to excess; gaudy; specious; superficial. "Tinsel trappings." Milton.
Tin"sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tinseled or Tinselled; p. pr. & vb. n. Tinseling or Tinselling.]
Definition: To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy. She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues. Pope.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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