Final answer:
Twinkling refers to the flashing light effect of stars caused by the bending of their light as it passes through different layers of Earth's atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "twinkling" (n.) refers to the phenomenon where stars appear to change brightness and position slightly when viewed from Earth, giving them a flashing lights effect. The light from stars travels through the Earth's atmosphere, which has varying temperature and density layers. These variations cause the light to bend in different directions, known as refraction, resulting in the twinkling effect. This is not to be confused with a misinterpretation or coiling, as those are unrelated to the visual effect of twinkling.