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tinker - What does it mean?

Definition of 'tinker'

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • an itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of tin
  • (dated|chiefly|British|and|Irish|offensive) A member of the travelling community. A gypsy.
  • A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
  • Someone who repairs, or attempts repair on anything mechanical (tinkers) or invents.
  • 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.
  • (Webster 1913)

    Synonyms

    * (mischievous person) rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, scoundrel * (member of the travelling community) traveller

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
  • * {{quote-magazine|date=2012-01
  • |author=Robert M. Pringle |title=How to Be Manipulative |volume=100|issue=1|page=31 |magazine= citation |passage=As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.}}
  • To work as a tinker.
  • See also

    * * tinker's damn

    Anagrams

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