tinker
Plural: tinkers
Noun
- a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
- 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
- small mackerel found nearly worldwide
- An itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of metal.
- A member of the Irish Traveller community or of other itinerant groups; a gypsy.
- A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
- Someone who repairs, or attempts repair, on anything mechanical, or who invents such devices; one who tinkers; a tinkerer.
- An act of repair or invention.
- A hand mortar.
- Any of various fish: chub mackerel, silverside, skate, or young mackerel about two years old.
- A bird, the razor-billed auk.
Verb
Verb Forms: tinker, tinkered, tinkering, tinkers
- To attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or unskilled way.
- do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
- work as a tinker or tinkerer
- try to fix or mend
- "Can you tinker with the T.V. set--it's not working right"
- To work as a tinker.
- To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
Examples
- He would often TINKER with his Scrabble rack, rearranging letters endlessly for inspiration.
- I'll have a tinker and see what I can do.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English tynkere, perhaps from Old English *tincere, from tin (“tin”) + *cere, as in bēocere (“beekeeper”).
Synonyms
chub mackerel, fiddle, mess around, monkey, monkey around, muck about, muck around, potter, putter, Scomber japonicus, tinkerer, fudge, hack, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, scoundrel, traveller
Scrabble Score: 10
tinker: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordtinker: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
tinker: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary