Definition
To shine or burn with a small, unsteady light that goes on and off quickly. Also used to describe something that appears briefly or moves lightly.
Example
The candle flickered in the cold night air.
Show translation
The candle flickered in the cold night air.
Etymology
From Old English *flicorian*, related to Low German *flikkern* and Dutch *flikkeren*, all rooted in a Germanic base meaning "to flutter" or "to move quickly to and fro." The sense of unsteady light is well established by the 16th century.
Cultural note
*Flicker* is highly productive in both literal and figurative English. A candle flickers; so does hope, a smile, or an eyelid. This metaphorical extension — a *flicker of doubt*, a *flicker of recognition* — makes it a word worth owning at any level. Note that *flicker* is also the name of a North American woodpecker known for its darting movement, showing the same sense of quick, irregular motion.