Meaning of the word tinker in English

What does tinker mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

tinker

US /ˈtɪŋ.kɚ/
UK /ˈtɪŋ.kər/
"tinker" picture

Verb

to attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way, often without useful results

Example:
He spent the whole afternoon tinkering with his old car engine.
The government is tinkering with the tax system again.

Noun

a person who travels from place to place mending metal utensils as a way of making a living (historically)

Example:
In the old days, the tinker would come by to fix our pots and pans.
He was known as a tinker who could fix almost anything made of metal.