tinker
/'tiɳkə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- small mackerel found nearly worldwide
- 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
- a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
Verb
- 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
- work as a tinker or tinkerer
- do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
- The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house