Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Small and neat, often in an attractive way: Used to describe something that is small, tidy, and charmingly pretty.
   • Small and insignificant: Used to describe something that is small and of little importance or impact.

2. Noun:

   • A small locomotive: A term for a small railway engine, often used in a historical or informal context.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She wore a dinky little hat with a feather. (Describing something small and attractive.)
  • They run their business from a dinky office above the shop. (Describing something small and perhaps insignificant.)
• Noun:
  • The museum has a collection of old dinkies used in the coal mines. (Referring to small locomotives.)

Advanced Usage

• The adjective is often used informally, particularly in British English, with a tone of affection or slight condescension.
• When used to mean "small and insignificant," it can carry a mildly dismissive or humorous connotation.

Variants and Related Words

• Dinkiness (noun, informal): The quality of being dinky (small and neat).
  • The dinkiness of the cottage was part of its charm.

Synonyms

• Adjective (small and neat): Cute, neat, petite, trim.
• Adjective (small and insignificant): Tiny, insignificant, negligible, paltry.
• Noun (locomotive): Shunter, switcher, small engine.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Large, huge, significant, important, untidy.

Adjective

1. (British informal) pretty and neat
   • what a dinky little hat
2. small and insignificant
   • we stayed in a dinky old hotel

Noun

1. a small locomotive