clinker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical (industrial, metallurgy), Nautical, Informal (slang, UK).
Quick answer
What does “clinker” mean?
A stony residue from burned coal or from a furnace.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A stony residue from burned coal or from a furnace; something that fails or is defective.
In music, a wrong note that disrupts harmony; in sailing, a type of boat construction; something exceptionally good (slang, chiefly British).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Common slang for 'something excellent'. US: Almost exclusively technical/industrial. 'Clinker-built' (nautical) is understood but less common in US everyday speech.
Connotations
UK: Can be highly positive (slang). US: Neutral/negative (waste, mistake).
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to dual technical/slang use. In US English, primarily found in industrial or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “clinker” in a Sentence
The coal produced a lot of clinker.They had to clear the clinker from the grate.That song was an absolute clinker! (UK)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clinker” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The vintage car they restored is a real clinker.
- Traditional dinghies are often clinker-built.
American English
- The furnace needs to be shut down to remove the clinker.
- Clinker bricks are known for their durability and textured appearance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like waste management, steel, or energy.
Academic
Found in engineering, metallurgy, and industrial history texts.
Everyday
Limited. UK: informal positive slang. US: very rare outside specific contexts.
Technical
Primary domain: industrial processes, metallurgy, nautical architecture (clinker-built).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clinker”
- Using the UK positive slang in US contexts where it will be misinterpreted as 'failure'.
- Confusing 'clinker' with 'clincher' (a decisive point).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on context and variety. Technically, it's negative (waste product). In UK slang, it's strongly positive (something excellent).
A method of boat building where the hull planks overlap, creating a distinctive ridged surface. It's the opposite of 'carvel-built' where planks are flush.
Rarely. The verb form ('to clinker') is obsolete or highly technical, meaning to form into clinker or solidify.
Slang often inverts meanings for emphasis or irony. Something so solid and hard (like clinker) can be reinterpreted as 'solid gold' or exceptionally good.
A stony residue from burned coal or from a furnace.
Clinker is usually technical (industrial, metallurgy), nautical, informal (slang, uk). in register.
Clinker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɪŋkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɪŋkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's a clinker! (UK slang = excellent)”
- “to drop a clinker (UK, old-fashioned = to make a social blunder/faux pas)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CLINKing sound as hard, stony waste (clinker) is shoveled out of a furnace.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE/IMPURITY IS A HARDENED RESIDUE (core); EXCELLENCE IS A HARD, VALUABLE OBJECT (UK slang).
Practice
Quiz
In British informal slang, calling something 'a real clinker' means it is: