noun
clink
klihngk
noun
1
A short, sharp ringing sound, as of glass or metal striking together.
"They raised their glasses with a clink to celebrate."
2
Informal term for prison.
"He spent a night in the clink after the bar fight."
verb
1
To make or cause a short ringing sound by striking metal or glass together.
"The coins clinked in his pocket as he walked."
How to Use Clink
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA light ringing sound like glasses touching, or informally, jail.
Common pairings
clink of glasses
thrown in the clink
Word Forms
clinked past tense, clinked past tense, clinks plural, clinks plural, Clinks plural, clinks singular, clinks singular
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They raised their glasses with a _____ to celebrate.
Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "to sound" or "ring," related to "cling" (in the sound sense) and "clang" — likely imitative of the noise metal makes striking metal.