clinker

¹ American  

[kling-ker] / ˈklɪŋ kər /

noun

1. a mass of incombustible matter fused together, as in the burning of coal.

2. a hard Dutch brick, used especially for paving.

3. a partially vitrified mass of brick.

4. the scale of oxide formed on iron during forging.

5. Geology. a mass of vitrified material ejected from a volcano.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to form clinkers in burning.

clinker ² American  

[kling-ker] / ˈklɪŋ kər /

noun

Slang.

1. any mistake or error.

2. something that is a failure; a product of inferior quality.

3. a wrong note in a musical performance.

4. British. someone or something wonderful or exceedingly well-liked.

---

clinker ³ American  

[kling-ker] / ˈklɪŋ kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that clinks.

---

clinker British  

/ ˈklɪŋkə /

noun

1. the ash and partially fused residues from a coal-fired furnace or fire

2. Also called: clinker brick.  a hard brick used as a paving stone

3. a partially vitrified brick or mass of brick

4. slang something of poor quality, such as a film

5. slang a mistake or fault, esp a wrong note in music

---

verb

1. (intr) to form clinker during burning

Etymology

Origin of clinker¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Dutch klinker (formerly klinkaerd ) “slag”; also a kind of brick, derivative of klinken, clinken “to clink” (from the sound the material makes when struck)

Origin of clinker¹

First recorded in 1830–40; special use of clinker ²

Origin of clinker¹

First recorded in 1680–90; clink ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Conch and Huawei have developed AI tools for more precisely predicting clinker strength, as well as for controlling energy use at the kiln where it is made.

From The Wall Street Journal

The house is wrapped in clinker brick, a term for when clay bricks are set too close to the flames when being fired in a kiln, giving them distorted shapes and colors.

From Los Angeles Times

Bee was built using age-old clinker planking techniques for a co-operative of crofters from Stroma which sits between Orkney and the mainland.

From BBC

"She has made enough ridiculous rulings in this case that nobody should be surprised if she makes another clinker," he told Salon.

From Salon

Cement is made through a process called clinkering, where limestone and other raw materials are crushed and heated to about 1,450°C in large kilns.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bickering
• controversy
• disagreement
• discord
• dissent
• disunity
• factionalism
• friction
• fuss
• quarrel
• strife
• wrangle