tinseling

Verb (1)

tinsel (third-person singular simple present tinsels, present participle (US) tinseling or (UK) tinselling, simple past and past participle (US) tinseled or (UK) tinselled)

1. (also, figuratively, transitive) To ornament (fabric, etc.) by weaving into it thread of gold, silver, or some other shiny material.
   • Hir daintie lims tinſill hir ſilke ſoft ſheets, / Hir roſe-crownd cheekes eclipſe my dazeled ſight, […]1594, Tho[mas] Nashe, “The Vnfortunate Traueller”, in The Vnfortunate Traueller. Or, The Life of Iacke Wilton, London: […] T. Scarlet for C[uthbert] Burby, […], →OCLC
2. (broadly, transitive) To deck out (a place or something) with showy but cheap ornaments; to make gaudy.
   • She, tinſel'd o'er in robes of varying hues, / With ſelf-applauſe her wild creation views, / Sees momentary monſters riſe and fall, / And with her own fools-colours gilds them all.1728, [Alexander Pope], “Book the First”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC, page 5, lines 69–72
3. (figuratively, transitive) To give (something) a false or superficial attractiveness.
   • I could tell them vague tales of their poetry, and cruel wars: but it seemed distant and tinselled an age.1926, T. E. Lawrence, chapter 105, in Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Verb (2)

tinsel (third-person singular simple present tinsels, present participle tinselling, simple past and past participle tinselled)

1. (Scotland, obsolete, rare, transitive) To cause (someone) damage or loss; also, to impose a fine on (someone); to mulct.

   Synonyms:

   endamage

See all 13 meanings of tinsel