Tinker: meaning, definitions and examples

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tinker

 

[ ˈtɪŋ.kər ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

noun

A person who travels from place to place mending metal utensils.

Synonyms

mender, metalworker, repairman

Examples of usage

  • He worked as a tinker, repairing pots and pans in exchange for food and shelter.
  • The tinker went from village to village, fixing household items for the locals.
Context #2 | Verb

verb

Attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way.

Synonyms

fiddle, play, toy

Examples of usage

  • She decided to tinker with the broken radio before calling a professional.
  • He liked to tinker with old cars in his spare time, trying to make them run better.

Translations

Translations of the word "tinker" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mexer

🇮🇳 ठीक करना

🇩🇪 basteln

🇮🇩 memperbaiki

🇺🇦 лагодити

🇵🇱 majsterkować

🇯🇵 いじる (ijiru)

🇫🇷 bricoler

🇪🇸 reparar

🇹🇷 tamir etmek

🇰🇷 수리하다 (surihada)

🇸🇦 يصلح (yuslih)

🇨🇿 opravovat

🇸🇰 opravovať

🇨🇳 修理 (xiūlǐ)

🇸🇮 popravljati

🇮🇸 lagfæra

🇰🇿 жөндеу

🇬🇪 შეკეთება (sheketeba)

🇦🇿 təmir etmək

🇲🇽 reparar

Etymology

The word 'tinker' originated from the Middle English 'tinkere', which comes from the Old English 'tincere', meaning 'metal-worker'. Tinkers were traditionally itinerant workers who repaired household goods, especially metal utensils. They played an important role in rural communities, traveling from village to village offering their services. Over time, the term 'tinker' has come to also mean someone who enjoys experimenting or trying to fix things in a makeshift or amateur manner.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,873, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.