noun / verb / adjective
tinsel
TIN-sul/ˈtɪnsl/
Thin glittering strips used as decoration.
Silver tinsel sparkles on the tree beside the window.
Etymology
The image of a spark or spangle first named cloth interwoven with gold or silver thread. The name then shifted to thin shiny strips that supply a similar decorative glitter.
In context
They decorated the Blue Castle with pine boughs, and Valancy made delightful little tinsel stars and hung them up amid the greenery.
More examples
- We tinsel the tree after hanging the lights.
- A tinsel garland hangs above the doorway.
- She sweeps stray strands of tinsel off the floor.
Forms
tinsel · tinsels · tinseled · tinseling