clinker

¹ 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.

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clinker ² American  

[kling-ker] / ˈklɪŋ kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that clinks.

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clinker ³ 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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to form clinkers in burning.

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

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verb

1. (intr) to form clinker during burning

Etymology

Origin of clinker¹

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

Origin of clinker²

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

Origin of clinker³

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)

Related Words

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