flicker1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈflɪkə/

verb

[no object]
  • 1(of light or a source of light) shine unsteadily; vary rapidly in brightness: the interior lights flickered, and came on
  • (of a flame) burn fitfully, alternately flaring up and dying down: the candle flickered again (as adjective flickering) the flickering flames cast long shadows
  • (of an emotion) be felt or shown briefly or faintly: amusement flickered briefly in his eyes
  • 2make small, quick movements: her eyelids flickered [with complement]: Forster’s eyes flickered open

noun

  • 1an unsteady movement of a flame or light causing rapid variations in brightness: the flicker of a candle flame caught our eyes
  • [mass noun] fluctuations in the brightness of a film or television image such as occur when the number of frames per second is too small for persistence of vision.
  • 2a tiny movement: the flicker of an eyelid
  • a brief feeling or indication of emotion: a flicker of a smile passed across her face

Origin:

Old English flicorian, flycerian 'to flutter', probably of Germanic origin and related to Low German flickern and Dutch flikkeren