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Tinker vs Tinder - What's the difference?

tinker | tinder |

As nouns the difference between tinker and tinder

is that tinker is an itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of tin while tinder is small dry sticks and finely-divided fibrous matter etc., used to help light a fire.

As verbs the difference between tinker and tinder

is that tinker is to fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner while tinder is to set fire to; torch.

As a proper noun Tinker

is {{surname|northern English|from=occupations}} for someone who mends pots and pans.

tinker

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • an itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of tin
  • (dated, chiefly, British, and, Irish, offensive) A member of the travelling community. A gypsy.
  • A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
  • Someone who repairs, or attempts repair on anything mechanical (tinkers) or invents.
  • The act of repair or invention.
  • (military, obsolete) A small mortar on the end of a staff.
  • Any of various fish: the chub mackerel, the silverside, the skate, or a young mackerel about two years old.
  • A bird, the razor-billed auk.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Synonyms

    * (mischievous person) rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, scoundrel * (member of the travelling community) traveller

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
    • , author=Robert M. Pringle , title=How to Be Manipulative , volume=100, issue=1, page=31 , magazine= citation , passage=As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.}}
  • To work as a tinker.

    • See also

    * * tinker's damn

    Anagrams

    *

    tinder

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia tinder) (-)
  • small dry sticks and finely-divided fibrous matter etc., used to help light a fire.

    • Usage notes

    Tinder refers to the first stage of building a fire: sparks light tinder, which then lights kindling, which then lights the main fire.

    Derived terms

    * tinder box, tinderbox

    Related terms

    * teend

    Coordinate terms

    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To set fire to; torch.
  • * Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
    • Is heaven a murderer when its lightning strikes a would-be murderer in his bed, tindering sheets and skin together?

    References