Definition

1. Noun:

   • A traveling mender of metal household items: Historically, a person (often itinerant or from a traditionally nomadic group) who repaired pots, kettles, and other metal utensils.
   • An unskilled or experimental repairer: A person who enjoys fixing or experimenting with machines, often in an informal, non-expert way.
   • A small mackerel: A type of small fish found in many parts of the world.

2. Verb:

   • To attempt to repair or adjust in an unskilled or experimental way: To try to fix or improve something, especially machinery, through trial and error, often without a clear plan.
   • To work in a casual or unproductive manner: To spend time doing small, often aimless tasks or adjustments.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The tinker came through the village, offering to mend pots and pans.
  • He's a real tinker; he's always taking apart old radios in his garage.
  • We caught several tinker mackerel off the coast.

• Verb:

  • He tried to tinker with the engine, but it still wouldn't start.
  • She spent the afternoon tinkering with the code, trying to find the bug.
  • Stop tinkering with that clock, or you'll break it completely.

Advanced Usage

• "to tinker away at something": To work persistently but often ineffectively on a task.

  • He's been tinkering away at that model airplane for weeks.

• "to tinker with an idea": To make small, experimental changes to a plan or concept.

  • The committee is still tinkering with the proposal's wording.

Variants and Related Words

• Tinkerer (noun): A person who tinkers; an informal repairer or experimenter.
  • As an inveterate tinkerer, he could never leave any gadget alone.

Synonyms

• Verb: Fiddle with, tamper with, dabble in, potter about, mess about.
• Noun: Handyman, fixer, potterer.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Tinker with: To make small, experimental changes to something.
  • The government is tinkering with the tax laws again.

Related Idioms

• Not worth a tinker's dam/cuss: Completely worthless. (A "dam" was a piece of material used to hold solder, discarded after use).
  • His opinion on the matter isn't worth a tinker's dam.

Noun

1. small mackerel found nearly worldwide
2. 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
3. a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts

Verb

1. try to fix or mend
   • Can you tinker with the T.V. set--it's not working right
   • She always fiddles with her van on the weekend
2. work as a tinker or tinkerer
3. do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
   • The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house