Chink

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /tʃɪŋk/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Of uncertain origin; apparently a re-formation of chine.

Full definition of chink

Noun

1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.
• 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4Yet I did not give way, but settled to wait for the dawn, which must, I knew, be now at hand; for then I thought enough light would come through the chinks of the tomb above to show me how to set to work.
• MacaulayThrough one cloudless chink, in a black, stormy sky,
  Shines out the dewy morning star.
2. A chip or dent (in something metallic).
3. A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system, idiomatically derived from the phrase "chink in armor".The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.The chink in the theory is that the invaders have superior muskets.
• 2011, January 30, Kevin Darlng, Arsenal 2 - 1 Huddersfield, The first chink in Arsenal's relaxed afternoon occurred when key midfielder Samir Nasri pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced.

Verb

1. (transitive) To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.to chink a wall
2. (intransitive) To crack; to open.
3. (transitive) To cause to open in cracks or fissures.

Onomatopoeic.

Noun

1. A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other.
2. (colloquial, now rare) Ready money, especially in the form of coins.
• 1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska 1987, pp. 47-8:I thought that if all the hills about there were pure chink, and all belonged to me, I would give them if I could just talk to her when I wanted to ...
• Somervilleto leave his chink to better hands

Verb

1. (intransitive) To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.The coins were chinking in his pocket.
2. (transitive) To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other.

Noun

1. Alternative form of Chink