Can "tinkle" be used for the sound of a river?

[alpacinou]

Is it natural and common to use tinkle for the sound of a river/stream?

I found this example in a dictionary:

tinkle

1. a light ringing sound: 2. to make a phone call to someone: 3. an act of…

dictionary.cambridge.org

In the distance we heard the silvery tinkle of a stream.

 

[emsr2d2]

Is it natural and common to use "tinkle" for the sound of a river/stream?

I found this example in a dictionary:

tinkle

1. a light ringing sound: 2. to make a phone call to someone: 3. an act of…

dictionary.cambridge.org

In the distance, we heard the silvery tinkle of a stream.

Yes.

 

[Flamenco1]

Is it natural and common to use tinkle for the sound of a river/stream?

I found this example in a dictionary:

tinkle

1. a light ringing sound: 2. to make a phone call to someone: 3. an act of…

dictionary.cambridge.org

In the distance we heard the silvery tinkle of a stream.

Most importantly, if your reader or listener conjures up what it is you are trying to communcate then it is fine.

I'd avoid splitting the phrase. Sometimes the sum of the parts ..............................

As for natural and common, I'd say no. Certainly not in anything but literature. (Said as an Englishman).

As for literature, I as a writer strive to use uncommon phrases. As for natural it reads fine to me.

Hope that helps.

 

[jutfrank]

I think you might be looking for trickle instead.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think you might be looking for trickle instead.

I don't think that describes the sound. It's more like the movement.

A "tinkling stream" works for me, albeit I wouldn't use it in everyday language - it's more poetic and literary.

 

[Tdol]

It's not much of a river if the best it can do is tinkling.

 

[5jj]

It's not much of a river if the best it can do is tinkling.

The example sentence in the dictionary mentioned a stream.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't think that describes the sound. It's more like the movement.

Yes, but I feel it gets across the sound too, although my suggestion of trickle was really based on a hunch that perhaps alpacino was confusing tinkle and trickle. Perhaps trickling sound would be better?:

Through the trees we heard the trickling sound of a stream.

As Tdol points out, however, both words would only work for a very small stream, not a river.

 

[Tdol]

The example sentence in the dictionary mentioned a stream.

Agreed, but the question brought rivers in, and tinkling rivers are fairly piddling.