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Definition of tinker verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

tinker

verb
 
/ˈtɪŋkə(r)/
 
/ˈtɪŋkər/
[intransitive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they tinker
 
/ˈtɪŋkə(r)/
 
/ˈtɪŋkər/
he / she / it tinkers
 
/ˈtɪŋkəz/
 
/ˈtɪŋkərz/
past simple tinkered
 
/ˈtɪŋkəd/
 
/ˈtɪŋkərd/
past participle tinkered
 
/ˈtɪŋkəd/
 
/ˈtɪŋkərd/
-ing form tinkering
 
/ˈtɪŋkərɪŋ/
 
/ˈtɪŋkərɪŋ/
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  1. tinker (with something) to make small changes to something in order to repair or improve it, especially in a way that may not be helpful
    • He’s in the garage tinkering with his bike.
    • The password will prevent others from tinkering with your data.
    • The government is merely tinkering at the edges of a much wider problem.
    Word OriginMiddle English (first recorded in Anglo-Latin as a surname): of unknown origin.
See tinker in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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alloy
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Physics and chemistry
C2
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