kink

play

noun \ˈkiŋk\

Definition of kink

1 : a short tight twist or curl caused by a doubling or winding of something upon itself
2a : a mental or physical peculiarity : eccentricity, quirkb : 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

See kink defined for English-language learners

See kink defined for kids

Examples of kink in a Sentence

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 of kink from the Web

However, by midseason the kinks may be worked out a bit and Wesley McGriff will bring plenty of knowledge of Auburn's defense to the table for the Rebels.

— AL.com, "Ranking Auburn's biggest games of 2017," 9 July 2017
Still, Zinke cautioned Thursday that working out the kinks of such a speedy approval system would take time.

— juliet eilperin, Washington Post, "Interior aims to speed oil and gas permitting on public lands with 30-day reviews," 6 July 2017
Venus, the planet of love and beauty, moves into your zone of daily routine Tuesday, and kinks in your schedule or with coworkers get worked out easily (finally!).

— aurora tower, Cosmopolitan, "Your Horoscopes for the Week of July 3," 2 July 2017
The lines appear blurry for pretty much anyone without a deep understanding of kink.

— gigi engle, Teen Vogue, "Consent and BDSM: What You Should Know," 1 July 2017
The downward kink in the rearmost side windows that lets little kids see outside is still there, but it’s been softened for a less abrupt look.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Review: 2018 Honda Odyssey is a kid hauler with tricks and treats," 28 June 2017
Yet Howard, one of the company's most devout evangelists, is confident the kinks can be worked out.

— adam mann, Science | AAAS, "Commercial balloons in the stratosphere could monitor hurricanes and scan for solar storms," 22 June 2017
After a four-hour visit last week: The idea holds promise, but there are plenty of kinks to work out.

— susan glaser, cleveland.com, "A theme park with no lines? Testing the technology at Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay water park (photos)," 22 June 2017
Baez depicts Laveau as a vision of abundance, defined by the billowing kinks of her hair, which fill the 61/2 -foot-tall gouache and graphite picture to its wavy edges.

— lori waxman, chicagotribune.com, "This is what intersectional feminist art looks like," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kink.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of kink

Dutch; akin to Middle Low German kinke kink

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1678

See Words from the same year

kink

verb

Definition of kink

intransitive verb
: to form a kink
transitive verb
: to make a kink in

Recent Examples of kink from the Web

A long time ago in a star cluster far, far away … two curiously massive black holes collided and became one, unleashing a torrent of energy that kinked the fabric of space-time itself.

— National Geographic, "Bizarre Black Holes Revealed by New Space-Time Ripples," 1 June 2017
In a lot of places, the stems actually snapped or kinked over.

— jen skerritt, Bloomberg.com, "Wheat Futures Surge After U.S. Crop Pummeled by Snowstorm," 1 May 2017
Flexible all-rubber hoses especially retain resilience in cool weather, when competitors made exclusively or partially of vinyl seem to stiffen and too easily kink.

— jeff leib, The Denver Post, "Tools of the trade: Getting the kinks out of the garden hose," 31 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of kink

1697

KINK Defined for English Language Learners

kink

play

noun

Definition of kink for English Language Learners

: a tight bend or curl in something (such as a rope or hose)
: a pain especially in your neck or back that is caused by tight muscles
: a small problem or flaw

KINK Defined for Kids

kink

play

noun \ˈkiŋk\

Definition of kink for Students

1 : a short tight twist or curl (as in a thread or hose)
2 : ¹cramp 1 I've got a kink in my back.
3 : an imperfection that makes something hard to use or work We need more rehearsals to work out the kinks.