chink

• Nom aux plusieurs sens : une fissure ou une ouverture étroite, un son métallique bref et léger, ou une insulte ethnique offensante désignant une personne d'origine chinoise.

A noun with multiple meanings: a narrow opening or crack, a short light metallic sound, or an offensive ethnic slur for a person of Chinese descent.

1. Narrow openingB2formal

   A small, narrow crack or gap, for example between planks in a wall or in armor.

   Fente, fissure

   • A chink in the wall let in a sliver of light.
   • He peered through a chink in the fence.
   • The wind whistled through a chink in the window frame.

   Synonymescleftcrackcrannycrevicefissuregapintersticeopeningslit

2. Short metallic soundB2formal

   A short, light, ringing sound, like that of metal or glass lightly hitting something.

   Bruit métallique léger

   • The chink of glasses signaled a toast.
   • He heard the chink of coins in his pocket.
   • The only sound was the chink of a spoon against a teacup.

   Synonymesclinkjingleringtingtinkle

• Émettre ou faire émettre un son court, net et métallique, semblable à celui de métal ou de verre qui s'entrechoquent.

A verb meaning to make or cause to make a short, sharp, ringing sound, like that of metal or glass striking together.

1. Make a high-pitched soundB2formal

   To produce or emit a short, sharp, ringing sound, like that of glass or metal lightly striking together.

   Émettre un tintement

   • The coins chinked together in his pocket as he walked.
   • She heard the glasses chink as he set them on the table.
   • The keys chinked softly when she dropped them into the bowl.

   Synonymesclinkjingleringtinkle

2. Fill cracks or gapsC1formaltechnical

   To fill the narrow openings or cracks in a surface, such as a wall or log cabin, with a sealing material.

   calfeutrer

   • The workers chinked the cabin walls with mud and moss.
   • He spent the afternoon chinking the gaps between the stones.
   • They used a special sealant to chink the wooden planks.

   Synonymescaulkfillplugsealstopstuff

3. Create cracksC1formal

   To cause narrow openings or fissures to form in a surface.

   Fissurer

   • The dry heat chinked the old wooden floorboards.
   • The earthquake chinked the plaster on the ceiling.
   • Over time, the weather chinked the stone wall.

   Synonymescrackfissurefracturerupturesplit

   Antonymescaulkclosefillplugseal