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tinker

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To tinker is defined as to play around with something, or to try to change or fix it.

(verb)

When you play around with the controls on the dishwasher to try to make the dishwasher work better and you end up messing it up, this is an example of a situation where you tinker with the dishwasher.

The definition of a tinker is a person who can make minor repairs, an unskilled worker or a clumsy worker.

(noun)

A gypsy is an example of a tinker.
A repairman is an example of a tinker.

See tinker in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a usually itinerant person who mends pots, pans, etc.
Chiefly Irish, Chiefly Scot. Gypsy ()
a person who can make all kinds of minor repairs; jack-of-all-trades
a clumsy or unskillful worker; bungler
☆ a young mackerel

Origin: ME tinkere < ? or akin to tinken, to make a tinkling sound

intransitive verb

to work as a tinker
to make clumsy or tentative attempts to mend or repair something
to fuss or putter aimlessly or uselessly

transitive verb

to mend as a tinker; patch up

Related Forms:

tinkerer noun

See tinker in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A traveling mender of metal household utensils.
Chiefly British A member of any of various traditionally itinerant groups of people living especially in Scotland and Ireland; a traveler.
One who enjoys experimenting with and repairing machine parts.
A clumsy repairer or worker; a meddler.

verb tin·kered, tin·ker·ing, tin·kers

verb, intransitive

To work as a tinker.
To make unskilled or experimental efforts at repair; fiddle: tinkered with the engine, hoping to discover the trouble; tinkering with the economy by trying various fiscal policies.

verb, transitive