a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
Used in a Sentence
tinker
How to use tinker in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for tinker.
Editorial note
They are, admit it, fun to tinker with.
Examples5
Definitions6
Parts of speech2
Quick take
a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of tinker gathered in one view.
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
small mackerel found nearly worldwide
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for tinker.
noun
a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
See also: tinkerer
noun
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
noun
small mackerel found nearly worldwide
verb
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly; "The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house"
verb
work as a tinker or tinkerer
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"
See also: fiddle
Example sentences
They are, admit it, fun to tinker with.
The subset of people who want to really tinker inside their machines is vastly outweighed by people who want a very lightweight machine, so offering the "lightweight" option is a no-brainer.
We build "frameworks", where one must tinker and monkey-patch and fork to such a degree that only another programmer can download and assemble a working system, let alone customize it.
Furthermore, I would personally prefer to tinker with a Brainfuck implementation than spend any amount of time in any bar, even it's in Guatemala or Colombia.
HN has a subtle anti-college bias, so I want to put my point out there: my college experience was not defined by my classes or by my professors, but by the serendipitous connections that I made by being mixed in with a bunch of smart people who like to tinker.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use tinker in a sentence?
They are, admit it, fun to tinker with.
What does tinker mean?
a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
What part of speech is tinker?
tinker is commonly used as noun, verb.