tinker
gb/tˈɪŋkɚ/ us/tˈɪŋkɚ/
B2
English
bíbelődik, állítgat, bütyköl, belenyúl, variál, drótostót, sértő megnevezés az ír travellerekre
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
tinker (with) [something]
I spent an hour tinkering with the camera settings to get the color right.
Egy órán át bíbelődtem a kamera beállításaival, hogy jó legyen a szín.
She’s always tinkering with her résumé, even when she’s not job-hunting.
Mindig állítgatja az önéletrajzát, még akkor is, amikor épp nem keres állást.
If you tinker with the pricing too often, customers get confused.
Learner examples
He tinkered with the radio until it worked.
Addig bíbelődött a rádióval, amíg működni nem kezdett.
Don’t tinker with my phone settings.
Ne állítgasd a telefonom beállításait.
Common mistake:
Learners often forget the preposition: say “tinker with the settings,” not “tinker the settings.”
Meaning
make small changes experimentally
Collocations
tinker with the settings
|tinker with the design
|tinker with the plan
|tinker with the code
|tinker with an app
|tinker with a recipe
|tinker with the engine
|tinker with the schedule
|tinker with the formula
|tinker with the system
Synonyms
fiddle (More informal; often suggests needless or slightly annoying changes.)
|
tweak (Usually implies a small improvement; often used in tech/design.)
|
adjust (More neutral and deliberate; less experimental than tinker.)
Antonyms
leave alone (Not changing or interfering with something.)
|
overhaul (Make major changes, not small ones.)
Themes
daily_life
|technology
|problem_solving
Definition
To change something a little bit to improve it or test it.
To make small adjustments to something in an informal, experimental way, often to improve it or see what happens.
VERB
B2
2
bütyköl
B2
Usage pattern:
tinker (around) (in/with) [place/thing]
On weekends he tinkers in the garage and fixes up old bikes.
Hétvégén a garázsban bütyköl, és régi bicikliket hoz rendbe.
I like tinkering with electronics, but I’m not an engineer.
Szeretek elektronikával bütykölni, de nem vagyok mérnök.
They spent the afternoon tinkering with a DIY speaker kit.
Learner examples
She tinkers with old radios.
Régi rádiókat bütyköl.
He tinkers in his workshop.
A műhelyében bütyköl.
Common mistake:
“Tinker” usually suggests informal, small-scale work, not professional repair work.
Meaning
do casual repairs as hobby
Collocations
tinker in the garage
|tinker with electronics
|tinker with bikes
|tinker with computers
|tinker with old cars
|tinker with gadgets
|tinker with hardware
|tinker with robots
Synonyms
mess around (Very informal; can imply no clear purpose.)
|
potter (BrE; suggests doing small tasks slowly and casually.)
|
build (More goal-directed and may be larger in scope than tinker.)
Antonyms
hire a professional (Pay someone else to do the repair or installation.)
|
neglect (Not taking care of something or not working on it.)
Themes
hobbies
|home
|tools
|technology
Definition
To do small repairs or build things for fun.
To spend time repairing, building, or improving mechanical or electronic things as a hobby, usually in a relaxed, hands-on way.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
tinker with [system/rules/arrangement]
Every time they tinker with the algorithm, creators complain about the results.
Valahányszor belenyúlnak az algoritmusba, az alkotók panaszkodnak az eredményekre.
Stop tinkering with the rules halfway through the tournament.
Ne variáljatok a szabályokkal a torna kellős közepén.
The report warned that tinkering with the system could make it less secure.
Learner examples
Don’t tinker with the rules.
Ne variálj a szabályokkal.
They tinkered with the system and broke it.
Belenyúltak a rendszerbe, és elrontották.
Common mistake:
This sense is often critical: it implies the changes are unnecessary or risky.
Meaning
meddle and risk causing problems
Collocations
tinker with the rules
|tinker with regulations
|tinker with the tax code
|tinker with the constitution
|tinker with the algorithm
|tinker with policy
Synonyms
meddle (Stronger negative judgment; suggests unwanted interference.)
|
tamper (Implies improper or unauthorized interference, often physical.)
|
interfere (Neutral to negative; focuses on getting involved and affecting an outcome.)
Antonyms
stabilize (Keep something steady and consistent.)
|
maintain (Keep something as it is and functioning.)
Themes
business
|government
|problem_solving
Definition
To change something a little in a way that may not help.
To interfere with something (especially a system, rules, or a situation) by making small changes that may not be helpful and could cause trouble.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
drótostót
C2
Usage pattern:
a tinker
In the story, a tinker arrives in town to mend pots and kettles.
A történetben egy drótostót érkezik a városba, hogy megjavítsa a fazekakat és a kannákat.
The museum display described the tools a tinker would carry from village to village.
A múzeumi tárlat bemutatta, milyen szerszámokat vitt magával a drótostót faluról falura.
Meaning
itinerant mender of household items
Collocations
a travelling tinker
|a village tinker
Synonyms
mender (General term for someone who repairs things; not necessarily traveling.)
|
repairer (Neutral and modern; lacks the historical/traveling sense.)
Antonyms
breaker (Someone who damages rather than repairs.)
Themes
history
|work
Definition
In the past, a person who traveled to fix metal pots and pans.
A person who travels from place to place repairing household items such as pots and pans (now mainly historical).
NOUN
C1
SLANG
5
Usage pattern:
a tinker
The school addressed the incident after a student used “tinker” as a slur.
Az iskola foglalkozott az esettel, miután egy diák sértésként használta a „tinker” szót.
In many places, “tinker” is considered an offensive label and should be avoided.
Sok helyen a „tinker” sértő megnevezésnek számít, ezért kerülni kell.
Common mistake:
Do not use this to refer to people; it is widely considered a slur in many contexts.
Meaning
offensive term for Irish Traveller
Synonyms
slur (Not a synonym in meaning; indicates the word’s function as an insult.)
Themes
society
|identity
Definition
An offensive word for an Irish Traveller (avoid).
An offensive term for a member of the Irish Traveller community.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tinker
IPA
GB/tˈɪŋkɚ/
US/tˈɪŋkɚ/
Syllables & stress
tinker (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tinker)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tinker
- Plural: tinker, tinkers
Verb
- Base: tinker
- 3rd Person Singular: tinkers
- Present Participle: tinkering
- Past: tinkered
Expressions
tinker around
1/tˈɪŋkɚ ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
informal
do small casual work
To work on something in a casual way for fun.
Examples
- I was just tinkering around with a new app idea.
- He tinkered around with the bike until the brakes felt better.
- We spent the afternoon tinkering around in the garden shed.
Learner examples
- They tinkered around with the old computer.
tinker at/around the edges
1/tˈɪŋkɚ ətɚˈaʊnd ðə ˈɛd͡ʒɪz/
idiom
make minor changes, not real reform
To make small changes that don’t solve the main problem.
Examples
- The proposal just tinkers around the edges instead of fixing the housing shortage.
- We can’t keep tinkering at the edges of the budget; we need a new plan.
- They accused the committee of tinkering at the edges of the issue.
tinker away
1/tˈɪŋkɚ əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
informal
keep working in small steps
To keep making small changes for a long time.
Examples
- She tinkered away at the model plane until midnight.
- They’ve been tinkering away at the new design for months.
- I’ll tinker away with the settings and see if it runs faster.