chink

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.
  2. A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening.
  3. A chip or dent in something metallic.
  4. A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system.
verb
  1. To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.
  2. To crack; to open.
  3. To cause to open in cracks or fissures.
noun
  1. A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other; a clink.
  2. Ready money, especially in the form of coins.
verb
  1. To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.
  2. To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other.
noun
  1. Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).
verb
  1. Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).
noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Chink.
noun
  1. A person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent.
  2. A person of perceived East Asian descent.
  3. A meal of Chinese food.
adj
  1. Chinese, or perceived to be Chinese.
  2. East Asian.

Pronunciation

/t͡ʃɪŋk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-chink.wav

Word forms

chink chinks chinking chinked more Chink most Chink

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, but apparently an extension, with diminutive -k (see more at -ock), of Middle English chine (or, if already suffixed in Middle English, *chinek), from Old English ċine (“a crack, chine, chink”), equivalent to chine + -k.

Translations

Bulgarian: цепнатина Bulgarian: пролука Finnish: rakonen Finnish: rako German: Spalt German: Riss German: Ritze German: Spalte Ancient Greek: ῥώξ Irish: scáineadh Māori: piere Māori: matata Māori: matatatanga Māori: riwhariwha Polish: szczelina Polish: szpara Russian: тре́щина Russian: щель Spanish: fisura Spanish: rendija Ottoman Turkish: آرالق Ottoman Turkish: چاك Ukrainian: шпарина Ukrainian: щілина Ukrainian: тріщина
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