First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1tinker
noun tin·ker \ˈtiŋ-kər\
: a person who in the past traveled to different places and made money by selling or repairing small items (such as pots and pans)
Full Definition of TINKER
1
a : a usually itinerant mender of household utensils b : an unskillful mender : bungler
2
chiefly Irish : gypsy
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Origin of TINKER
Middle English tinkere
2tinker
verb
: to try to repair or improve something (such as a machine) by making small changes or adjustments to it
tin·keredtin·ker·ing \-k(ə-)riŋ\
Full Definition of TINKER
intransitive verb
: to work in the manner of a tinker; especially : to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner : fiddle <always tinkering with his car>
transitive verb
: to repair, adjust, or experiment with
— tin·ker·er \-kər-ər\ noun
See tinker defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of TINKER
1592
TINKERER Defined for Kids
tinker
verb tin·ker \ˈtiŋ-kər\
tin·keredtin·ker·ing
Definition of TINKER for Kids
: to repair or adjust something in an unskilled or experimental manner
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