clinker

/'kliɳkə/

Thân thiện

The workers laid a clinker to pave the garden path.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A hard, stony residue: A mass of fused, vitrified, or partially fused material, typically formed in a furnace or kiln, especially from the burning of coal or the firing of cement raw materials.
   • A paving brick: A hard, durable brick, often made from such fused material, used for paving surfaces.

2. Verb:

   • To form clinker: To turn into or produce clinker as a result of excessive heat during combustion or firing.
   • To remove clinker: To clear out clinker and similar residue from a furnace, fireplace, or boiler.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The coal fire left a pile of clinker in the bottom of the stove.
  • The old sidewalk was paved with red clinkers.
• Verb:
  • If the coal is too high in impurities, it will clinker and clog the grate.
  • Remember to clinker the boiler to maintain its efficiency.

Advanced Usage

• "Clinker-built": (Adjective) A nautical term describing a style of boat building where the planks overlap along their edges. (Note: This is a compound word where 'clinker' is a historical variant related to 'clinch' or 'clink', not directly derived from the residue/brick meaning. It is listed here due to its common spelling but represents a distinct etymology and usage.)
• In industrial contexts: "Clinker" is a crucial intermediate product in Portland cement manufacturing, formed by sintering limestone and clay at high temperatures before being ground into cement powder.

Variants and Related Words

• Clinkery (adj): Resembling or consisting of clinker; hard and stony.
  • The clinkery residue was difficult to remove.
• Clinkering (n): The process of forming clinker.
  • Clinkering occurs at the hottest zone of the kiln.

Synonyms

• Noun (residue): Slag, cinder, dross, ash.
• Noun (brick): Paving brick, paver.

Related Phrases

• "To be a clinker": (Slang, dated) To be a mistake, a failure, or something of very poor quality.
  • That movie was a real clinker; I want my money back. (This idiomatic usage treats the noun as a metaphorical failure, likening it to a worthless residue.)
• "A real clinker": (Slang, dated) Can also mean something outstanding or excellent (an antonymic slang usage, now rare).
  • That racehorse is a real clinker! (This positive slang is largely historical.)

Notes on Different Meanings

The word has two primary, related noun meanings (residue and the brick made from it) and a verb meaning derived from the first. The slang meanings for a failure or, conversely, an excellent thing, are metaphorical extensions. The term "clinker-built" is a homograph with a separate origin.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a hard brick used as a paving stone
2. a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire

Verb

1. turn to clinker or form clinker under excessive heat in burning
2. clear out the cinders and clinker from
   • we clinkered the fire frequently

Từ đồng nghĩa

• clinker brick
• cinder