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Tinsel - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Tinsel is a shiny, decorative material made of thin strips of foil or plastic, often used to add sparkle to Christmas trees and holiday decorations. It reflects light and creates a festive appearance.

tinsel

/ˈtɪnsəl/ /ˈtɪns(ə)l/

Definition:

Thin, shiny strips of metal or plastic used for decoration, especially at Christmas.

Synonyms:

glitter, garland, decoration, spangle

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

plainness, simplicity

Common Collocations:

Christmas tinsel, hang tinsel, drape tinsel, sparkly tinsel

Derivatives:

tinselled (British), tinseled (American), tinselly

Usage Tips:

Use 'tinsel' to describe festive decorations; avoid overusing it in non-holiday contexts.

Common Phrases:

"all that glitters is not gold, " "tinsel town" (Hollywood)

Etymology:

From Old French *estincele* ("spark"), influenced by Latin *scintilla* ("spark").

Examples:

  • 1. The tree sparkled with silver tinsel.
  • 2. She draped tinsel over the fireplace for a festive touch.
  • 3. Too much tinsel can make the room look cluttered.
  • 4. He carefully removed the tangled tinsel after the holidays.

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