tinsel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a showy decoration that is basically valueless
    • all the tinsel of self-promotion
  2. noun a thread with glittering metal foil attached
  3. verb impart a cheap brightness to
    • his tinseled image of Hollywood
  4. verb adorn with tinsel
    • snow flakes tinseled the trees
  5. verb interweave with tinsel
    • tinseled velvet

WordNet

Tin"sel noun
Etymology
F. étincelle a spark, OF. estincelle, L. scintilla. Cf. Scintillate, Stencil.
Definitions
  1. A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
    Who can discern the tinsel from the gold? Dryden.
  2. Something shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more gay than valuable.
    O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel, hers the rich reward. Cowper.
Tin"sel adjective
Definitions
  1. Showy to excess; gaudy; specious; superficial. "Tinsel trappings." Milton.
Tin"sel transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Tinseled or Tinselled; present participle & verbal noun Tinseling or Tinselling
Definitions
  1. To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
    She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues. Pope.

Webster 1913