clink

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /klɪŋk/ UK /klɪŋk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to make a light sharp ringing sound; informally, prison

They clinked their glasses and drank to the new year.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make a light sharp... jingle tinkle chink clang jangle ring

Word family

Derived forms clinking

Related forms clank clunk clinker

Etymology

From Middle English clinken, of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, akin to Dutch klinken 'to ring, sound'. The slang sense 'prison' derives from the Clink, a former prison in Southwark, London.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# clink

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /klɪŋk/
**IPA (UK):** /klɪŋk/

## Meanings
1. to make a light sharp ringing sound; informally, prison

## Examples
- They clinked their glasses and drank to the new year.

## Synonyms
- jingle
- tinkle
- chink
- clang
- jangle
- ring

## Derived Forms
- clinking

## Related Forms
- clank
- clunk
- clinker

## Etymology
From Middle English clinken, of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, akin to Dutch klinken 'to ring, sound'. The slang sense 'prison' derives from the Clink, a former prison in Southwark, London.

## AI Etymology
Clink comes from Middle English clinken, of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, akin to Dutch klinken 'to ring, sound'. The slang sense 'prison' derives from the Clink, a former prison in Southwark, London. Its formation is sound-symbolic rather than a regular transparent compound, with the older form echoing the sound named in the history. Used as a verb and noun, clink now means "make a light sharp ringing sound; informally, prison", so the present definition can be read against the older forms and meanings. The same lexical family is also visible in derived forms such as clinking and related forms such as clank, clunk, and clinker. The result is a borrowed or transmitted form whose modern spelling carries a compact record of its route into English.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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