kink

American  

[kingk] / kɪŋk /

noun

1. a twist or curl, as in a thread, rope, wire, or hair, caused by its doubling or bending upon itself.

   The kink in the hose was restricting the water flow.

2. a muscular stiffness or soreness, as in the neck or back.

   The kink in my neck was making it difficult to turn my head at all.

3. a flaw or imperfection likely to hinder the successful operation of something, such as a machine or plan.

   There are still a few kinks to be worked out of the design before we start production.

4. Slang.

   1. unconventional sexual preferences or behavior collectively.

   2. a particular sexual preference or behavior that is unconventional.

   3. a person characterized by such preferences or behavior; kinkster.

5. a mental twist; notion; whim.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to form or cause to form a twist or curl, as in a rope.

   The high tensile steel wire ensures the product will not kink in the sharpest bend.

kink British  

/ kɪŋk /

noun

1. a sharp twist or bend in a wire, rope, hair, etc, esp one caused when it is pulled tight

2. a crick in the neck or similar muscular spasm

3. a flaw or minor difficulty in some undertaking or project

4. a flaw or idiosyncrasy of personality; quirk

5. informal a sexual deviation

6. a clever or unusual idea

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verb

1. to form or cause to form a kink

Other Word Forms

• unkink verb

Etymology

Origin of kink

First recorded in 1670–80; from Dutch: “a twist in a rope”; perhaps akin to kick ( def. )

Example Sentences

They need to work out the kinks on the practice range.

From Los Angeles Times

If a sterile neutrino were sometimes produced instead, it would leave a recognizable distortion, or "kink," in that pattern.

From Science Daily

Companies are also having a tough time working out kinks in their hardware.

From MarketWatch

Companies are also having a tough time working out kinks in their hardware.

From MarketWatch

In Southern California, lions have shown deformities from inbreeding, including kinked tails and malformed sperm.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flaw
• hitch
• imperfection