Definition

1. Noun:

   • A short, light, sharp, metallic sound: A clear, ringing sound, often high-pitched, like that made by glasses or coins lightly striking together.
   • A slang term for a prison or jail: An informal, often old-fashioned word for a correctional institution.

2. Verb:

   • To make or cause to make a short, light, sharp, metallic sound: To produce a clear, ringing noise, typically by striking glass, metal, or ceramic objects together lightly.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Sound):

  • I heard the cheerful clink of glasses from the dining room.
  • The clink of coins in his pocket was a familiar sound.

• Noun (Prison):

  • He spent a night in the clink for disorderly conduct.
  • The thief was sent to the clink.

• Verb:

  • They clinked their champagne glasses to celebrate.
  • The ice cubes clinked in the glass as she walked.

Advanced Usage

• "to clink glasses": A common phrase for the act of touching glasses together, usually when making a toast.

  • It's a tradition to clink glasses and say "Cheers!"

• "to clink in one's pocket": Describes the sound of coins or keys moving and hitting each other inside a pocket.

  • The loose change clinked in his pocket with every step.

Variants and Related Words

• Clinky (adj., informal): Describing something that makes a clinking sound or is reminiscent of such a sound.
  • The clinky bracelet made noise with every movement.

Synonyms

• Noun (Sound): Tinkle, jingle, chink, ring.
• Noun (Prison): Jail, lockup, penitentiary, slammer (all slang).
• Verb: Tinkle, jingle, chink, ring.

Related Phrases

• Clink of chains: A phrase often used in literature to evoke the sound of prisoners' chains or other metal restraints.
  • The only sound was the clink of chains from the dungeon.

Idioms

• "Clink, clink": An onomatopoeic representation of the sound itself, sometimes used in speech or writing.
  • "Clink, clink," went the bottles as the crate was moved.

Noun

1. a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
2. a short light metallic sound

Verb

1. make or emit a high sound
   • tinkling bells
2. make a high sound typical of glass
   • champagne glasses clinked to make a toast