kink

1 of 2

noun

1
: a short tight twist or curl caused by a doubling or winding of something upon itself
2
a
: a mental or physical peculiarity : eccentricity, quirk
b
: whim
3
: a clever unusual way of doing something
4
: a cramp in some part of the body
5
: an imperfection likely to cause difficulties in the operation of something
6
: unconventional sexual taste or behavior

kink

2 of 2

verb

kinked; kinking; kinks

intransitive verb

: to form a kink

transitive verb

: to make a kink in

Examples of kink in a Sentence

Noun got a kink in my neck from lying in that awkward position for too long the boss's fondness for nicknames is one of those kinks that staffers just have to put up with
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Scar tissue forms adhesions, which can cause your intestines to become twisted and blocked, almost like a garden hose with a kink. Pam Moore, C.p.t., SELF, 13 Mar. 2024 Due to a kink in the FAFSA system, parents without social security numbers are unable to complete their portion of the application. Hannah Poukish, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Big Tech players, such as Apple, have been more conservative in their AI efforts, waiting for others to work out the kinks. Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 23 Feb. 2024 And the World Series Champion Texas Rangers are also working out the kinks in the desert. Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024 Black girls from across the globe spill into this event on a spacious lawn to show off their beautiful kinks, supple coils, and flowing curls. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 29 Jan. 2024 This device comes with a round brush and paddle brush for adding volume and straightening out any kinks. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2023 Visits by Bloomberg News to way stations across southwest Ivory Coast in late 2023 revealed the kinks that may interrupt EUDR’s implementation. Mumbi Gitau, Fortune Europe, 27 Feb. 2024 But to realize such a staggering advance, Starship will likely first need to fly dozens of times as SpaceX irons out the rocket’s many remaining kinks. Michael Greshko, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2024
Verb
The container should be big enough to accommodate the roots without bending or kinking them. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024 Frieze Cut: Frieze carpet is distinguished by its long fibers that are twisted together and kinked, resulting in a curly, knobby-looking surface often compared to a shag carpet. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2023 That practically eliminates the chance of the line kinking. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023 Testers found that the hose did kink a bit, but the kinks straightened out quickly. Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2023 The hose straightened out nicely when unpackaged and didn’t kink during testing. Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 7 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kink.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch; akin to Middle Low German kinke kink

First Known Use

Noun

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1625, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of kink was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near kink

Cite this Entry

“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kink. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

kink

1 of 2 noun
1
: a short tight twist or curl (as in a thread, rope, or hose)
2
: cramp entry 1 sense 1
a kink in my back
3
: an imperfection that makes something hard to use or work

kink

2 of 2 verb
: to form or cause to form a kink

Medical Definition

kink

1 of 2 noun
1
: a short tight twist or curl caused by a doubling or winding of something upon itself
2
: a cramp in some part of the body

kink

2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to form a kink

transitive verb

: to make a kink in
blood vessels have been kinked and shut offBenjamin Spock

More from Merriam-Webster on kink

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