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Nictitate: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Nictitate verb. To blink or wink.
How to say it
NIK-tih-tayt/ˈnɪktɪteɪt/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (NIK). Forms: nictitated, nictitating.
Nictitate in a sentence
The lizard nictitated slowly, a pale lid sliding sideways across its eye.
Cats have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, that sweeps the eye clean.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- blink
- wink
Where nictitate comes from
From medieval Latin nictitare, from Latin nictare, to wink.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Cats have a third eyelid, the _____ membrane, that sweeps the eye clean.
- recuperate
- atrophy
- nictitate
Show the answer
nictitate: Cats have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, that sweeps the eye clean.