clink

UK: /ˈklɪŋk/ US: /klɪŋk/ ,(klingk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

clink¹ /klɪŋk/   v. 

1. to (cause to) make a light, sharp, ringing sound: [no object]
   The coins clinked together.
   [~ + object]
   We always clink our glasses together and say "Cheers!''

n. [countable]

2. a clinking sound.

clink² /klɪŋk/   n. [countable* usually singular: the + ~] Slang.

1. Slang Terms a prison;
   jail;
   lockup:
   Throw him in the clink!

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

clink¹  (klingk), v.t., v.i. 

1. to make or cause to make a light, sharp, ringing sound:
   The coins clinked together. He clinked the fork against a glass.

n. 

2. a clinking sound.
3. Metallurgy a small crack in a steel ingot resulting from uneven expanding or contracting.
4. a pointed steel bar for breaking up road surfaces.
5. [Archaic.] a rhyme;
   jingle.

• Middle Dutch clinken to sound, ring, resound
• Middle English clinken, perh. 1275–1325

clink²  (klingk), n. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a prison;
   jail;
   lockup.

• Dutch klink door-latch
• after Clink, name of prison in Southwark, London, perh. 1505–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

clink / klɪŋk/ verb

1. to make or cause to make a light and sharply ringing sound

noun

1. a light and sharply ringing sound

Etymology: 14th Century: perhaps from Middle Dutch klinken; related to Old Low German chlanch, German Klang sound

clink / klɪŋk/ noun

1. a slang word for prison

Etymology: 16th Century: after Clink, name of a prison in Southwark, London