So, what does a wink mean anyway?

[Ren]

The point of my thread can be summed up in one question: What does it really mean when a guy winks at a girl?

Ok, the details now... I know that winking is a way to flirt, I just don't quite get it. I've had different people wink at me, usually in a way that let's me in on a joke or something like that. When I was little, my parents would wink at me and I always sort of took that as a kiss from across the room. However, last year, I started hanging out with a guy that I'm pretty sure is "into" me. He occasionally will wink at me at what I would call random times. I keep wondering "What was that for?" He mostly stopped when I made it pretty clear that we wouldn't be dating, but still at times he will do it.

Perhaps I'm showing my inexperience with guys, relationships and such but I just want to know what does this ;) mean? So any insight would be appreciated.

[The Falcon]

so he winks at you without saying anything before hand? just a wink? that's quite confusing, eh? yeah, i think it's because he's into you

[Ren]

Yeah, pretty much. He usually winks at me when he's walking past me, like when he passes by a table I'm sitting at or if I happen to see him as he walks past the door to a room I'm in.
The only time he's said anything before do it was when he was going to be in China for 2 weeks and had lent me a comic book the day before he left. As he was saying goodbye to friends he said "Enjoy that comic." and winked at me. If you're wondering what the comic book was, it was just a Batman comic, nothing to wink about.

[Dr. OneWay]

Yeah, pretty much. He usually winks at me when he's walking past me, like when he passes by a table I'm sitting at or if I happen to see him as he walks past the door to a room I'm in.
The only time he's said anything before do it was when he was going to be in China for 2 weeks and had lent me a comic book the day before he left. As he was saying goodbye to friends he said "Enjoy that comic." and winked at me. If you're wondering what the comic book was, it was just a Batman comic, nothing to wink about.

He could be doing out because he likes you. But I know that sometimes a wink can be the same as a hand wave, or a friendly goodbye kiss. I don't get winked at all, but I know that my parents have winked at me just out of love, or when you open up a huge present at Christmas and you scream "YAY!", then they may wink and smile. I don't know what your situation is. If he does it all the time, then maybe it is out of "love", or "like-ness?", but if it annoys you, you should tell him.

[The Falcon]

ah. ok. my new theory is that it could be a form of him saying hello. i often walk by people and instead of waving or giving a head nod, i wink

[Kagetsu]

Yes, that sounds about right. To me, a wink ment an underlying meaning. Something was thought but not said and the wink a small signal that you should think further.

So I checked Wiki and they do have it listed.
A wink is a form of semi-formal communication, which indicates shared, unspoken knowledge.

Winking is also done by men to women, as a form of charm.

And even if you flat out tell guys "we're just friends", you'll still get flirtatious gestures.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I would never wink at a girl randomly unless I was trying to flirt, and even I don't do that when I am.

I think this guy is trying to bug you and knows it throws you off.

[Shawn Hopkins]

If you are reasonably attractive and men around your age wink at you, talk to you, look at you or otherwise acknowledge your presence when you aren't phsyically blocking their way, it means they want to have sex with you. It may not be at the forefront of their minds, but it is there. If you've told him you won't date him and he's still hanging around, he's hanging around because he hopes you'll change your mind.