Nictate (Verb)
Meaning
Briefly shut the eyes; "The TV announcer never seems to blink".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- She nictated rapidly while her contact lens adjusted to the changed environment.
- Every time he gave a speech, the bright lights caused him to nictate to shield his eyes.
- People often fail to notice the short nictation that happens before a driver becomes fully alert to an oncoming hazard.
- His friend managed to nictate only once while staring intensely at a UFO that appeared to hover above.
- His nictation of the eyes made everyone believe there was just a problem with the projector.