TINKER

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tinker mean? 

• TINKER (noun)
  The noun TINKER has 3 senses:

1. a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts

2. formerly a person (traditionally a Gypsy) who traveled from place to place mending pots and kettles and other metal utensils as a way to earn a living

3. small mackerel found nearly worldwide

  Familiarity information: TINKER used as a noun is uncommon.

• TINKER (verb)
  The verb TINKER has 3 senses:

1. do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly

2. work as a tinker or tinkerer

3. try to fix or mend

  Familiarity information: TINKER used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TINKER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

tinker; tinkerer

Hypernyms ("tinker" is a kind of...):

experimenter (a person who enjoys testing innovative ideas)

Derivation:

tinker (do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Formerly a person (traditionally a Gypsy) who traveled from place to place mending pots and kettles and other metal utensils as a way to earn a living

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("tinker" is a kind of...):

gipsy; gypsy; itinerant (a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Small mackerel found nearly worldwide

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

chub mackerel; Scomber japonicus; tinker

Hypernyms ("tinker" is a kind of...):

mackerel (any of various fishes of the family Scombridae)

Holonyms ("tinker" is a member of...):

genus Scomber; Scomber (type genus of the Scombridae)

• TINKER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tinker    ... he / she / it tinkers   
Past simple: tinkered   
Past participle: tinkered   
-ing form: tinkering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

mess around; monkey; monkey around; muck about; muck around; potter; putter; tinker

Context example:

The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house

Hypernyms (to "tinker" is one way to...):

work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tinker"):

puddle (mess around, as in a liquid or paste)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

tinker; tinkerer (a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts)

tinkerer (an unskilled person who tries to fix or mend)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Work as a tinker or tinkerer

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "tinker" is one way to...):

do work; work (be employed)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Try to fix or mend

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

fiddle; tinker

Context example:

She always fiddles with her van on the weekend

Hypernyms (to "tinker" is one way to...):

bushel; doctor; fix; furbish up; mend; repair; restore; touch on (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his face is as black as a tinker’s.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“What lay are you upon?” asked the tinker.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Beer for the lads of the forest, mead for the gleeman, strong waters for the tinker, and wine for the rest.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The scientists recently authored a new study that moves picoscience in yet another direction: taking elements from the periodic table and tinkering with them at the subatomic level to tease out new materials.

(Picoscience and a plethora of new materials, National Science Foundation)

“Why, what do you mean?” said the tinker, looking so sternly at me, that I almost feared he saw the money in my pocket.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

There were folk, too, to be met upon the road—beggars and couriers, chapmen and tinkers—cheery fellows for the most part, with a rough jest and homely greeting for each other and for Alleyne.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Have you got the price of a pint of beer about you?” said the tinker.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Come here, when you're called,” said the tinker, “or I'll rip your young body open.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Where do you come from?” asked the tinker, giving his hand another turn in my shirt, to hold me more securely.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As I drew nearer to them, trying to propitiate the tinker by my looks, I observed that the woman had a black eye.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)