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Entry 4 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Tinsel

/tĭn'-səl/ · Tin·sel · IPA /ˈtɪnsəl/
01 n. A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, ver…
  1. 1.
    A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
    “Who can discern the tinsel from the gold?” — Dryden.
  2. 2.
    Something shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more gay than valuable.
    “O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel, hers the rich reward.” — Cowper.
02 a. Showy to excess; gaudy; specious; superficial.
  1. 1.
    Showy to excess; gaudy; specious; superficial.
03 v. t. To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
imp. & p. p. Tinseled; p. pr. & vb. n. Tinseling
  1. 1.
    To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
    “She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues.” — Pope.