A very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat).

synonyms: blink of an eye, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiffy, New York minute, split second, trice, twinkling.

Roget 550: indication; symbolism, symbolization; semiology, semiotics, semeiology^†, semeiotics^†; Zeitgeist.    [means of recognition: property] characteristic, diagnostic; lineament, feature, trait; fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint [for animals]; cloven hoof; footfall; recognition (memory) 505.    [means of recognition: tool] diagnostic, divining rod; detector.    sign, symbol; index, indice^†, indicator; point, pointer; exponent, note, token, symptom; dollar sign, dollar mark.    type, figure, emblem, cipher, device; representation etc. 554; epigraph, motto, posy.    gesture, gesticulation; pantomime; wink, glance, leer; nod, shrug, beck; touch, nudge; dactylology^†, dactylonomy^†; freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology [Med.], byplay, dumb show; cue; hint etc. 527; clue, clew, key, scent.    signal, signal post; rocket, blue light; watch fire, watch tower; telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff; cresset^†, fiery cross; calumet; heliograph; guidon; headlight.    [sign (evidence) on physobj of contact with another physobj] mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick.    print; imprint, impress, impression.    [symbols accompanying written text to signify modified interpretation] keyboard symbols, printing symbols; [Symbols for emphasis], red letter, italics, sublineation^†, underlining, bold font; jotting; note, annotation, reference; blaze, cedilla, guillemets^†, hachure [Topo.]; [Special Characters list], quotation marks, "; double quotes, " "; parentheses, "( )"; brackets, "[ ]"; braces, "{ }", curly brackets; arrows, slashes; left parenthesis, "("; right parenthesis, ")"; opening bracket, "["; closing bracket, "]"; left curly brace, "{"; right curly brace, "}"; left arrow, ""; forward slash, "/"; backward slash, "\\"; exclamation point, "!"; commercial at, "@"; pound sign, "#"; percent sign, "%"; carat, "^"; ampersand, "&"; asterisk, "*"; hyphen, "-"; dash, "-", "_"; em dash, "--"; plus sign, "+"; equals sign, "="; question mark, "?"; period, "."; semicolon, ";"; colon, ":"; comma, ","; apostrophe, "'"; single quote, "'"; tilde, "~". [For identification: general] badge, criterion; countercheck^†, countermark^†, countersign, counterfoil; duplicate, tally; label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop; dib^†; totem; tessera^†, card, bill; witness, voucher; stamp; cacher [Fr.]; trade mark, Hall mark.    [For identification of people, on a document] signature, mark, autograph, autography; attestation; hand, hand writing, sign manual; cipher; seal, sigil [Lat.], signet, hand and seal [Law]; paraph^†, brand; superscription; indorsement^†, endorsement.    [For identification of people, to gain access to restricted (locations or information)] password, watchword, catchword; security card, pass, passkey; credentials etc. (evidence) 467; open sesame; timbrology^†; mot de passe [Fr.], mot du guet [Fr.]; pass-parole; shibboleth.    title, heading, docket.    address card, visiting card; carte de visite [Fr.].    insignia; banner, banneret^†, bannerol^†; bandrol^†; flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum^†, oriflamb^†, oriflamme; figurehead; ensign; pennon, pennant, pendant; burgee^†, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack; banderole, old glory [U.S.], quarantine flag; vexillum^†; yellow-flag, yellow jack; tricolor, stars and stripes; bunting.    heraldry, crest; coat of arms, arms; armorial bearings, hatchment^†; escutcheon, scutcheon; shield, supporters; livery, uniform; cockade, epaulet, chevron; garland, love knot, favor.    [Of locality] beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock; guidepost, handpost^†, fingerpost^†, directing post, signpost; pillars of Hercules, pharos; bale-fire, beacon-fire; l'etoile du Nord [Fr.]; landmark, seamark; lighthouse, balize^†; polestar, loadstar^†, lodestar; cynosure, guide; address, direction, name; sign, signboard.    [Of the future] warning etc. 668; omen etc. 512; prefigurement etc. 511.    [Of the past] trace, record &c., 551.    [Of danger] warning etc. 668, alarm etc. 669.    [of authority]. scepter etc. 747.    [of triumph]. trophy etc. 733.    [of quantity]. gauge etc. 466.    [Of Distance] milestone, milepost.    [Of disgrace], brand, fool's cap.    [For detection], check, telltale; test etc. (experiment) 463; mileage ticket; milliary^†.    notification etc. (information) 527; advertisement etc. (publication) 531.    word of command, call; bugle call, trumpet call; bell, alarum, cry; battle cry, rallying cry; angelus^†; reveille; sacring bell^†, sanctus bell [Lat.].    exposition etc. (explanation) 522, proof etc. (evidence) 463; pattern etc. (prototype) 22.    ... show more

Dutch: handomdraai, mum, moment, pols, flits

Closing one eye quickly as a signal.

A reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly.

synonyms: blink, blinking, eye blink, nictation, nictitation, winking.

Dutch: knipogen, knipperen
Polish: mrugnięcie

Signal by winking.

Roget 442: be blind etc. adj.; not see; lose sight of; have the eyes bandaged; grope in the dark.    not look; close the eyes, shut the eyes-, turn away the eyes, avert the eyes; look another way; wink etc. (limited vision) 443; shut the eyes to, be blind to, wink at, blink at.    render blind etc. adj.; blind, blindfold; hoodwink, dazzle, put one's eyes out; throw dust into one's eyes, pull the wool over one's eyes; jeter de la poudre aux yeux [Fr.]; screen from sight etc. (hide) 528.    ... show more

Roget 550: indicate; be the sign etc. n.. of; denote, betoken; argue, testify etc. (evidence) 467; bear the impress etc. n.. of; connote, connotate^†.    represent, stand for; typify etc. (prefigure) 511; symbolize.    put an indication, put a mark etc. n.; note, mark, stamp, earmark; blaze; label, ticket, docket; dot, spot, score, dash, trace, chalk; print; imprint, impress; engrave, stereotype.    make a sign etc. n.. signalize; underscore; give a signal, hang out a signal; beckon; nod; wink, glance, leer, nudge, shrug, tip the wink; gesticulate; raise the finger, hold up the finger, raise the hand, hold up the hand; saw the air, suit the action to the word" [Hamlet]. wave a banner, unfurl a banner, hoist a banner, hang out a banner etc. n.; wave the hand, wave a kerchief; give the cue etc. (inform) 527; show one's colors; give an alarm, sound an alarm; beat the drum, sound the trumpets, raise a cry.    sign, seal, attest etc. (evidence) 467; underline etc. (give importance to) 642; call attention to etc. (attention) 457; give notice etc. (inform) 527.    ... show more

Dutch: knipogen, knipoogje, knipoog

Gleam or glow intermittently.

synonyms: blink, flash, twinkle, winkle.

Briefly shut the eyes.

synonyms: blink, nictate, nictitate.

Roget 443: be dimsighted etc. n.; see double; have a mote in the eye, have a mist before the eyes, have a film over the eyes; see through a prism, see through a glass darkly; wink, blink, nictitate; squint; look askant^†, askant askance^†; screw up the eyes, glare, glower; nictate^†.    dazzle, loom.    ... show more

Dutch: flitsen, knippen, knipperen

Keep back by blinking.

synonyms: blink, blink away.