kink

noun \ ˈkiŋk \

Definition of kink

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

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

Working in BYU's favor is the chance to get out any first-game kinks.

— christopher dabe, NOLA.com, "LSU gets an early look at BYU with Cougars' first game set for Saturday," 25 Aug. 2017
Much like NFL players, media members and broadcasters need the preseason to polish their craft, build chemistry and work out the kinks.

— roger pinckney, star-telegram, "Date for Tony Romo’s NFL TV debut for CBS has been set," 13 Aug. 2017
The good news is that the Pederson has about a month to work out the kinks.

— jeff mclane, Philly.com, "What we learned in Eagles-Packers | Jeff McLane," 11 Aug. 2017
In addition, overhead copper wires sag in oppressive heat and rails develop kinks that can lead to derailment.

— Washington Post, "Another hot day scorches Northwest, affecting transit, games," 3 Aug. 2017
Lyft is working out the kinks before expanding the service throughout southern California and then nationwide next year.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Lyft and Taco Bell team up for late-night drive-thru munchies," 25 July 2017
Peck covers as many kinks, genders, preferences, and personalities as her pages will hold.

— loren savini, Allure, "These Three Women Are On a Mission to Shatter Porn Stereotypes," 20 July 2017
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

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 Synonyms

Synonyms

charley horse, crick, ¹cramp, spasm

Related Words

contraction, jerk, pang, stitch, twinge, twitch

Near Antonyms

conformity, sameness

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

And as Imaan Hammam traded in her signature kinks for a 1950s coiffure—the retro effect furthered by a crimson lip—

— calin van paris, Vogue, "The Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week: Solange, Cindy Crawford, and More," 27 Aug. 2017
Other details, such as the angular headlights and tortuously kinked sheetmetal, may appeal to some buyers.

— annie white, Car and Driver, "2017 Toyota Prius," 10 July 2017
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
Not only were their numbers dismal, but almost all of the male panthers showed signs of inbreeding depression, including undescended testicles, kinked tails and low sperm counts.

— laura poppick, Smithsonian, "Threatened Species? Science to the (Genetic) Rescue!," 27 Apr. 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

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

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.

—

kinky

\ˈkiŋk-ē\ adjective

kinky hair

Medical Dictionary

kink

noun \ ˈkiŋk \

medical Definition of kink

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

intransitive verb

medical Definition of kink

:to form a kink

transitive verb

:to make a kink in

blood vessels have been kinked and shut off
—Benjamin Spock

Learn More about kink

See words that rhyme with kink Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for kink Spanish Central: Translation of kink Nglish: Translation of kink for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of kink for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up kink? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

kink

Definition of kink

People Are Reading

Examples of kink in a Sentence

Recent Examples of kink from the Web

Origin and Etymology of kink

kink Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

kink

Definition of kink

Recent Examples of kink from the Web

First Known Use of kink

Phrases Related to KINK

Related Phrases

KINK Defined for English Language Learners

kink

Definition of kink for English Language Learners

KINK Defined for Kids

kink

Definition of kink for Students

kinky

Medical Dictionary

kink

medical Definition of kink

kink

medical Definition of kink

Learn More about kink

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The History of the Word 'Terrorism'

Trending: McCain: Half-Baked, 'Spurious' Nationalism

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Forms of Government Quiz

Words of the Year: 1066