1(of light or a source of light) shine unsteadily; vary rapidly in brightness.

里面的灯闪了几下后亮了起来。

1. 1.1 (of a flame) burn fitfully, alternately flaring up and dying down.
   （火焰）摇曳，忽隐忽现
   the candle flickered again

   烛光再次忽明忽暗。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It had only been a few minutes earlier that a flame had flickered into life inside a linen cupboard on the top floor, but already the corridor was filled with smoke.
   • Nick's eyes burned, small flames flickering within his pupils.
   • By the time she got him to the side of the road, flames were flickering.
   • The candle fire flickered and the shadows danced in the room.
   • The flame flickered and then burnt fiercely, casting a warm yellow light over the small study.
   • Alicia had placed a group of advent candles on the windowsill and their flames were flickering merrily against the backdrop of the night.
   • The flame flickered, casting an amber glow over the room and coating it in warmth.
   • I held in my hand a single black candle, it's flame flickering as my body disturbed the air around it.
   • The flames flickered in the darkness of the lower level and cast eerie shadows over the ground.
   • Amy entered the dining room with a lighted candle in one hand, the flame flickering in the darkness.
   • It is promised that he shall enjoy its treasures, and so he does for a short time, before the flames flicker upon him in turn.
   • The immature flame of the candle flickered slightly, exposing for a moment more of the trio seated in the room.
   • And the stars that were splashed across the sky flickered like candle flames.
   • Small dying flames flickered on his body, and he did nothing to remove them, as if the flames were merely a mirage.
   • Once the lights were dimmed, the view from the stage was pitch-black save for the pinpoints of candle flames flickering in the dark.
   • The candle flames flickered oddly, as if some draft was waxing and waning in time with the chanting.
   • The music sways like a candle flame flickering in the breeze; it can fade, almost dying altogether, then it suddenly soars high and true.
   • She crouched on the soft sand in a cave, the light of a dying fire flickering across her tan fur.
   • The dying embers of the fire flickered and he squinted to get a feel of his surroundings.
   • But the troubles caused by that truth cause the candle's flame to flicker slightly from time to time.
2. 1.2with adverbial of place (of a feeling or emotion) be experienced or show itself briefly and faintly, especially in someone's eyes.
   〈喻〉（感觉，感情）闪现，闪过（尤指眼部表情）
   amusement flickered briefly in his eyes

   他眼中闪过一丝笑意。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Jamie smirked softly, watching the emotions flicker in Brian's wide blue eyes.
   • Those gathered at the gates of Longannet witnessed the despair of many, and the anger flickering briefly across some faces.
   • A thousand painful, confusing emotions flickered through her brain all at once and she pulled away from him sharply.
   • Anger flickered briefly in Kreed's eyes before their expression was quickly masked.
   • Amusement flickered briefly over Stone's face before he turned his attention to the package.
   • It was in that moment that several emotions flickered across the young girl's face.
   • I watched the emotions flicker across his face, like a rainbow in a spray of water.
   • Timon pressed lightly, though his dark eyes watched her face carefully as emotions flickered across it.
   • An undefined emotion flickered over his features briefly before they settled back into a blank gaze.
   • Emotions flickered across Mage's face before he once again spoke to his friend.
   • Faith had been watching the conflicting emotions flicker over his face.
   • Either way, some inappropriate emotion may flicker across their face.
   • Emotions flickered across Michelle's face as she listened to the conversation between the two brothers.
   • I looked up at him and watched the emotions flicker across his face.
   • He shook off the feeling immediately and said quietly, the whole time carefully watching the emotions flickering across her face.
   • Rage briefly flickered in that imperial expression, then she seemed amused again.
   • Morgan watched discreetly as different emotions flickered across her face.
   • As Karya's emotions flickered across her face, Aidan's lips were twitching.
   • Not an emotion flickered across Lisa's face as she stared coolly back at the waitress.
   • Emotions briefly flickered across his blue eyes as they gazed into hers, wide and astonished.

2Make small, quick movements; flutter rapidly.

她眨了眨眼皮。

受伤杀手眨了两下眼皮睁开了双眼。

1. 2.1with adverbial of direction (of someone's eyes) move quickly in a particular direction in order to look at something.
   （眼睛）快速瞥视
   her alert hazel eyes flickered around the room

   她用警惕的淡褐色眼睛快速扫视了一下房间。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The man's eyes flickered across the room, coming to rest on Sally.
   • His eyes flickered around the room, seeing armed guards standing around the group on the bed, spears pointed at them.
   • She joined in a conversation, her eyes flickering in the direction of the room doors.
   • Her eyes did flicker my way, but quickly returned to their place.
   • Kayla's eyes flickered across the room and it was indeed a very grand and well kept room.
   • I saw his eyes flicker in the direction of the instruments.
   • My eyes flickered across the room until I found a dark figure crouching on the ground.
   • He seemed quite interested, but I watched his eyes flicker quickly back to Willow.
   • Her iridescently colored eyes flickered in the direction of the voice, soon followed by a warm smile as she looked to Raek.
   • His eyes flickered to the other room, knowing they were listening.
   • Sipping it sparingly, my golden eyes flickered in his direction and then away.
   • Leah's eyes flickered to him quickly, a smile tugging at her lips, before she looked back to her book.
   • The woman smiled, her eyes flickering in Adrianna's direction and then back at the Gypsy Princess.
   • Phoenix stood slowly and walked toward Anjiru his eyes flickered in her direction a moment.
   • Tory's eyes flickered around the room as she tried to avoid looking at anyone.
   • Gwen declined to comment, though her eyes flickered over the entire room, and what could be seen of the bedroom as she entered.
   • The other girl walked up to Raven and her hazel eyes flickered to me for a second.
   • When his green eyes flickered toward mine, I quickly turned away and felt blood rush to my face.
   • His eyes flickered in her direction, then focused back on Malloy.
   • His mind ranged restlessly, his eyes flickered across the room.

1An unsteady movement of a flame or light that causes rapid variations in brightness.

忽明忽暗的烛光引起了我们的注意。

1. 1.1 Fluctuations in the brightness of a movie or television image such as occur when the number of frames per second is too small or the refresh rate too low for persistence of vision.
   （电影或电视每秒帧数过少时的）图像闪烁
   Example sentencesExamples

   • I saw no apparent bad pixels, interlace flicker, or LCD display streaking.
   • Movies do something similar through lighting, framing and the subliminal flicker of film itself.
   • Restored in 1999, the film holds up well, apart from a bit of flicker in spots.
   • The picture is also dark, hazy, dirty, murky, and marred by shimmering and flicker.
   • Aside from some flicker during the opening credit sequence, there is nothing to detract from the haunting visuals of the film.
   • You get a smoother image with less flicker and scan lines are hardly noticeable.
   • I did notice some scratches and odd patches of flicker, but otherwise Warner outdid themselves on the transfer.
   • Jitter and flicker are two different phenomena, but both can drive you to distraction when you're trying to get work done.
   • The quality of the transfer seems fine but not outstanding, although in one scene some notable flicker appears.
   • These are loop printing and flicker effects achieved through frenetic re-editing of the material.
   • In about a third of the homes I saw the sickly blue flicker of televisions bleeding through the curtains.
   • The work will target the key impairments of film flicker and unsteadiness, both of which interfere substantially with viewing.
   • If you work with a computer, the right monitor is important, as flicker and poor image quality can cause eye strain and fatigue.
   • The only flaws I could detect was, at one point in the middle, a scene had some flicker in contrast levels, but this went away never to return.
   • Some occasional flicker in solid-color areas was noted, but the effect lasted only a short time.
   • With the exception of some minor flicker here and there, it's a solid effort.
   • The print appears to be slightly washed out with occasional flicker, affecting Kieslowski's subtle use of lighting.
   • I just lay there watching the view screen flicker in and out.
   • Even more detail can be included in the same amount of time, resulting in pictures with less flicker.
   • In these films, even video flicker becomes substance.

2A tiny movement.

然后他注意到一个微小的动作。

1. 2.1 A brief feeling or indication of emotion.
   a flicker of a smile passed across her face

   她脸上掠过一丝微笑。

   she felt a flicker of alarm

   她感到一丝惊慌。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • In the final years of her illness she showed no recognition or flicker of emotional attachment - yet her loyal husband refused to leave her side until she finally passed away.
   • For the few seconds she stared into my eyes I saw something flicker, a brief flicker of pain that was gone before I could ask.
   • You find it in the expressions on his face while he sleeps, the way he stretches as he wakes and the flicker of a smile he gives you every so often.
   • For a brief moment, a flicker of desire flashed across his face, then was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
   • I see her in every beautiful woman, in every danger that threatens to overtake me, in every heartbeat, every flicker of emotion.
   • And yet there was something that emerged from this town that reverberated around the world, a brief flicker of recognition of what it really means to be human.
   • They'd only stared at each other for a moment before he looked away and closed the last curtain, but Misha had been certain a flicker of emotion had crossed his face.
   • She licked her lips and he let a brief flicker of disgust cross his face, rolling his eyes and turning away.
   • His face did not alter, but a brief flicker of pride and amusement danced in the Duke's eye as he glanced down at the lady's protruding stomach.
   • They are not merely unthinking savages: even in Goethe we have the faintest flicker of humanity.
   • But the faintest flicker of a smile made him seem approachable and loveable in a sorrowful way.
   • You get small flickers of different emotions playing in our golden playboy's eyes so he's not stone cold after all.
   • Even so, the artist's disparate styles of portrait and cartoon clash with only a flicker of emotional spark.
   • A short while earlier in the car park, in those few precious seconds when he had stood out in the open next to Emma, he had allowed himself to feel a faint flicker of optimism.
   • No flicker of emotion showed on the lifeguard's face.
   • But the only hate we feel will be a brief flicker at ourselves, for letting you make us so angry today.
   • Her father gave her to Yuugi, who accepted her hand, but didn't show any flicker of emotion or anything else.
   • With an emotionless flicker of a smile, Fiera gave Snug a gentle squeeze.
   • He just looked down at her for a moment and she thought she saw some kind of emotion flicker in and out of his eyes.
   • He does precious little with the text, however, registering not so much as a flicker of emotional anguish.
   • However, no flicker of emotion passed over his face as he - mentally - glared.
   • She was glad that a faint flicker of guilt passed over Ella's features, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
   • I actually went into a Zen state beyond boredom, in that for patches it was so boring I experienced a flicker of interest - in how boring it was.
   • For a brief moment, a flicker of the old, frightened Clarice Bridger made its way across Liral's face.
   • But Clark sees something change in his eyes, some infinitesimal flicker of emotion.
   • Every gesture of this mime can be watched with delight, and every flicker of emotion across his expressive face.
   • The Princess's reaction was typically stony as judgment was handed down, betraying not a flicker of emotion.
   • Areal watched her friend walk off, and then a flicker of emotions came over Dido's face when she turned to look at him.
   • There's a flicker of a smile on his lips, so he probably means a hacienda with vineyards and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
   • He sighed, and as I turned to face him, I saw a brief flicker of rage cross his face.
   • I have to wonder that when a brief flicker of sanity hits me.
   • Mr Wilkinson eyes me thoughtfully and I see some hidden emotion flicker in his eyes.
   • I watched emotion flicker across his face, but then his eyes hid behind the mask I'm so used to seeing.
   • With feral satisfaction she saw the brief flicker of wariness in her enemy's stance - and for good reason.
   • Bam was close to me again and there was a faint flicker of hope.
   • He gave no indication of her staring, no flicker of emotion, just a bare hint of amusement in his lips, then it was gone.
   • The brief flicker of humanity that was revealed when the minister allowed Kunle back into the country demands that he does the same thing with this case.
   • After a brief flicker of excitement, the game has descended into monotony again.

An American woodpecker that often feeds on ants on the ground.

Genus Colaptes, family Picidae: several species, in particular the common flicker (C. auratus), occurring in two forms that are distinguished by the underside of the tail and wings, which may be yellow (yellow-shafted flicker) or salmon red (red-shafted flicker)