Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tinker
Tink′er
,Noun.
[From
Tink
, because the tinker’s way of proclaiming his trade is to beat a kettle, or because in his work he makes a tinkling
noise. Johnson
.] 1.
A mender of brass kettles, pans, and other metal ware.
“Tailors and tinkers.” Piers Plowman.
2.
One skilled in a variety of small mechanical work.
3.
(Ordnance)
A small mortar on the end of a staff.
4.
(Zool.)
(a)
A young mackerel about two years old.
(b)
The chub mackerel.
(c)
The silversides.
(d)
A skate.
[Prov. Eng.]
5.
(Zool.)
The razor-billed auk.
Tink′er
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tinkered
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Tinkering
.] To mend or solder, as metal wares; hence, more generally, to mend.
Tink′er
,Verb.
I.
To busy one's self in mending old kettles, pans, etc.; to play the tinker; to be occupied with small mechanical works.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tinker
TINK'ER
,Noun.
Definition 2024
Tinker
tinker
tinker
See also: Tinker
English
Noun
tinker (plural tinkers)
- an itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of tin
- (dated, chiefly Britain and Ireland, offensive) A member of the travelling community. A gypsy.
- (usually with "little") A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
- Someone who repairs, or attempts repair on anything mechanical (tinkers) or invents; a tinkerer.
- The act of repair or invention.
- (military, obsolete) A small mortar on the end of a staff.
- Any of various fish: the chub mackerel, the silverside, the skate, or a young mackerel about two years old.
- A bird, the razor-billed auk.
Synonyms
- (mischievous person): rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, scoundrel
- (member of the travelling community): traveller
Translations
itinerant tinsmith
|
member of the travelling community
mischievous person
Verb
tinker (third-person singular simple present tinkers, present participle tinkering, simple past and past participle tinkered)
- (intransitive) To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
- 2012 January 1, Robert M. Pringle, “How to Be Manipulative”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 31:
- As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.
-
- (intransitive) To work as a tinker.
Translations
to fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it