clink

1 of 3

verb

ˈkliŋk 

clinked; clinking; clinks

intransitive verb

: to give out a slight sharp short metallic sound

transitive verb

: to cause to clink

clink

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a clinking sound

clink

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

slang : a prison cell

2

slang : jail, prison

Synonyms

Verb

• chink
• jingle
• tingle
• tinkle

Noun (2)

• bastille
• big house [slang]
• bridewell
• brig
• calaboose
• can
• cooler
• coop
• guardroom
• hock
• hold
• hoosegow
• jail
• jailhouse
• joint [slang]
• jug
• lockup
• nick [British slang]
• pen
• penitentiary
• pokey [slang]
• prison
• quod [British slang]
• slam
• slammer
• stir [slang]
• stockade
• tolbooth [Scottish]

Examples of clink in a Sentence

Verb

When she'd completed the toast, they clinked glasses.

coins clinking in his pocket as he traipsed down the street

Noun (2)

I once spent a night in the clink, and it's an experience I don't want to repeat

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The chaotic sounds of feet tapping, knives clinking, and electroshocks buzzing create anxiety throughout the film, but when Para One’s music plays, the film communicates that de Saint Phalle has reached a breakthrough. —Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024

Two weeks postpartum, our first visitors were Karen and Wayne, along with them 12 jars of marinara clinking together in a giant cardboard box. —Anna Noyes, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

When given a shake, the piece emits echoing clinks evocative of rushing water. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2024

To me, the tinkling glasses and ringing silverware are easily ignorable, the hodgepodge of clinks and clatters immediately fading into the background. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, of imitative origin

Noun (2)

probably from Clink, a prison in Southwark, London, England

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clink

• the clink

Kids Definition

clink

verb

ˈkliŋk

: to make or cause to make a slight sharp short sound like that of metal being struck

glasses clinked

clink noun