Dictionary.com
definitions

chink

1
[ chingk ]
/ tʃɪŋk /
||

noun

a crack, cleft, or fissure: a chink in a wall.
a narrow opening: a chink between two buildings.

verb (used with object)

to fill up chinks in.

RELATED CONTENT

Linalool, Floccinaucinihilipilification, And More Trending Words On Dictionary.comFrom the college gridiron to the chemistry lab to a politician in India, this week's trending word list has a world's worth of information in it. So pack your bags, and get ready to hit the road with us.
READ MORE
All Of These Words Are Offensive (But Only Sometimes)English is confusing. And, many words have multiple meanings (and those meanings can be both good and bad), but as long as we're all trying to use these words in the kindest and best ways we can, that's all that matters.
READ MORE

Nearby words

  1. chingtao,
  2. chingtechen,
  3. chinhuangtao,
  4. chinic acid,
  5. chinju,
  6. chink in one's armor,
  7. chinkapin,
  8. chinkiang,
  9. chinky,
  10. chinless

Origin of chink

1
1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps chine1 + -k suffix (see -ock)
SYNONYMS FOR chink
1 breach, rent, cut.

Definition for chinking (2 of 2)

chink

2
[ chingk ]
/ tʃɪŋk /

verb (used with or without object)

to make, or cause to make, a short, sharp, ringing sound, as of coins or glasses striking together.

noun

a chinking sound: the chink of ice in a glass.
Slang. coin or ready cash.

Origin of chink

2
First recorded in 1565–75; imitative
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chinking

British Dictionary definitions for chinking (1 of 3)

chink

1
/ (tʃɪŋk) /

noun

a small narrow opening, such as a fissure or crack
chink in one's armour a small but fatal weakness

verb

(tr) mainly US and Canadian to fill up or make cracks in
Derived Formschinky, adjective

Word Origin for chink

C16: perhaps variant of earlier chine, from Old English cine crack; related to Middle Dutch kene, Danish kin

British Dictionary definitions for chinking (2 of 3)

chink

2
/ (tʃɪŋk) /

verb

to make or cause to make a light ringing sound, as by the striking of glasses or coins

noun

such a sound

Word Origin for chink

C16: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for chinking (3 of 3)

Chink

taboo Chinky (ˈtʃɪŋkɪ)

/ (tʃɪŋk) /

noun, adjective plural Chinks or Chinkies

an old-fashioned and highly derogatory term for Chinese

Word Origin for Chink

C20: probably from Chinese, influenced by chink 1 (referring to the characteristic shape of the Chinese eye)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012